Coronavirus: 'Many Not Taking Lockdown Seriously, States Should Ensure Rules Are Followed', Says PM Modi

The government imposed severe restrictions across the country amid to prevent further spread of coronavirus that has infected over 400 people in India and killed seven.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked state governments to ensure rules of lockdown are followed properly and called on citizens to take the issue seriously. (PTI)

New Delhi: A day after successful "Janta curfew" on Sunday when millions of countrymen stayed indoor to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus infection, people on Monday once again hit the streets. Taking a cue from it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked state governments to ensure rules of lockdown are followed properly and called on citizens to take the issue seriously. The government imposed severe restrictions across the country amid to prevent further spread of coronavirus that has infected over 400 people in India and killed seven. PM said many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously and urged states to ensure that the directives are followed by people. The government has also ordered states to "strictly enforce lockdown" and asked for legal action against those who violated the restrictions. "Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the directives seriously. I request the state governments to ensure that the rules and laws are followed," the Prime Minister tweeted in Hindi.

लॉकडाउन को अभी भी कई लोग गंभीरता से नहीं ले रहे हैं। कृपया करके अपने आप को बचाएं, अपने परिवार को बचाएं, निर्देशों का गंभीरता से पालन करें। राज्य सरकारों से मेरा अनुरोध है कि वो नियमों और कानूनों का पालन करवाएं।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2020

Watch - Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced a complete lockdown in Delhi from March 23 till March 31 for the prevention and containment of COVID-19. The government said that all shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices, godowns, weekly markets shall stop their operations and only essential services and establishments have been exempted from the lockdown. The Delhi Police has imposed Section 144 of CrPC which prohibits assembly of four or more people in one place till March 31. Meanwhile, under the lockdown announced by the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, only 20 services will continue to operate normally while the rest of the services have been shut down. According to the advisory issued late on Sunday, the services that will continue include medical and health service, hospitals, pharmacists, pathological laboratories, Home Department, police services, urban development, food and civil supplies, power, fire services and animal husbandry. Petrol pumps, telephone and communication services, banks, postal services, media houses, shops selling essential commodities, gas agencies, surgical stores, banks, ATMs, life insurance services, information departments, information technology and online services have also been exempted from the lockdown.