Coronavirus Pandemic | PM Modi To Share A Video Message With Citizens Today At 9 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make his first video address following the announcement of the 21-day lockdown on March 24. "At 9 AM today morning, I will share a small video message with my fellow Indians," the prime minister tweeted, without divulging the subject of his message.

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Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed measures to combat coronavirus with chief ministers of different states and said that the government's first priority for the next few weeks should be ‘testing, tracing, isolating and quarantining’. He stressed that to make it happen, there should be proper coordination and effort down to the district level. Interacting via video conference, PM Modi said it is necessary to ensure the availability of separate and dedicated hospital facilities for COVID-19 patients.

The prime minister also told the chief ministers the importance of formulating a common exit strategy to ensure the staggered re-emergence of the population once the lockdown ends, an official statement said. He highlighted the necessity of "maintaining supply of essential medical products, availability of raw material for manufacture of medicines and medical equipment"

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He accepted Maharashtra Chief Minister’s suggestion that religious leaders should be asked to refrain from holding large gatherings.

CM Uddhav Thackeray made the suggestion during a video conference with Modi in the morning, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.

The prime minister accepted Thackeray’s suggestion and asked all chief ministers to speak to religious leaders from their respective states and ask them to tell the community members about the need for social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, the CMO said in a statement.