COVID-19 Alert: PM Modi Not To Participate In 'Holi Milan'
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, has said that he would not participate in the 'Holi Milan' programme this year. He also advised people to avoid mass gatherings to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading.
Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 4, 2020
In communicating this message, the Prime Minister hopes that people would follow his example and cut down on mass gatherings. PM Modi's tweet is aimed at counselling caution while asking people not to panic with regard to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, cases of COVID-19 in India have risen to 18 with 15 of the 21 Italian tourists testing positive for the rapidly spreading disease. The samples of the 15 poorest tested positive at the all India Institute of medical sciences. They were shifted to an ITBP isolation facility.
Meanwhile, another Italian tourist tested positive in Jaipur. A Secunderabad techie who travelled by bus from Bengaluru,and a Delhi resident who travelled to Italy and came to the national capital from Vienna also tested positive.
The Union Health ministry has asserted that there is no cause for panic at this stage. The government has put in place universal screening for passengers coming from 14 countries at 77 sea-ports and 21 airports. Screening is also being done on all international borders. 19 testing centres are to be activated today in addition to the 15 existing ones, the Union Health ministry said.