At the joint video conference with SAARC leaders and representatives, PM Modi highlighted India’s efforts to combat the spread of Coronavirus. PM Modi said, “Prepare, but don’t panic has been our guiding mantra. We were careful to not underestimate the problem, but also to avoid knee-jerk reactions. We have tried to take proactive steps, including a graded response mechanism.”
PM Modi said that the government has started screening entry into India from mid-January itself, while also gradually increasing restrictions on travel. He said the step-by-step approach has helped avoid panic. He also mentioned about the government’s public awareness campaigns on TV, print and social media.
PM Modi said that the government has made special efforts to reach out to vulnerable groups. “We have worked to quickly ramp up capacity in our system including through training our medical staff across the country. We have also increased diagnostic capabilities. Within two months, we moved from one major facility for pan-India testing, to more than 60 such labs”, informed PM Modi.
PM Modi also said that the government has developed protocols for each stage of managing the coronavirus pandemic: for screening at entry points; contact tracing of suspected cases; quarantine and management of isolation facilities; and for discharge of cleared cases.
Apart from this, India has also responded to the call of its citizens from abroad. India has evacuated nearly 1400 Indians from different countries as well as helped some citizens of neighbouring nations, in accordance with its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
