While the lockdown has been lifted, citizens mustn't forget that the Coronavirus is still at large, advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on October 20. "With the cooperation of the citizens, we have been able to contain the virus to great extent. The recovery rate is high and the death rate is low, much lower than more developed countries. This should be maintained and improved in the days to come," said the Prime Minister in his address. He also asked everyone to observe social distancing, wear masks and wash their hands regularly. "The festive season is a time for happiness. We shouldn't let it become a period of despair by not following the norms," Modi stated.
Speaking about the work done by the government during the pandemic, Modi stated, "Over 90 lakh isolation beds have been deployed while over 12,000 quarantine centres are operational across the country. Around 2,000 labs are testing samples and the number of tests will soon cross the 10-crore mark. The increasing number of tests have helped us fight the battle against COVID-19."
Commending the frontline workers for their stupendous effort in the face of the pandemic, the Prime Minister advised the nation to not take the situation lightly and consider that Coronavirus doesn't exist or it is not deadly anymore. "Recent videos have surfaced showing that people are not following the norms and standard operating procedures properly, not wearing masks outside," stated the Prime Minister.
Citing the cases of the United States, where cases have spurted after reducing for a while, Modi warned that a similar situation could arise in India as well if people remain complacent about the virus. "As long as the vaccine isn't developed, we shouldn't stop our fight against the virus or stop being careful. The entire world, including India, is working on vaccines right now," he said, adding, "The government is working to ensure that the vaccine reaches every Indian at the earliest, whenever it is discovered."
