COVID-19: PM Modi To Address Nation Tonight

As almost the entire nation goes into lockdown mode over COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the nation at 8 PM on Tuesday. This will be the second time PM Modi will be addressing the nation over the novel coronavirus pandemic. Speculation is rife that Prime Minister Modi will focus on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PM Modi is likely to announce an economic package in his address. He is expected to announce a slew of measures related to economic relief.

The finance ministry and NITI Aayog are likely to work out a package which would give relief to large sections of society. Prime Minister Modi had tweeted on Monday frowning upon the casual attitude of money to the seriousness underlying the lockdown. He appealed to state governments to ensure that the lockdown is enforced stringently.

PM Modi is also likely to reiterate his appeal to citizens to stay at home in order to break the chain of the COVID-19 pandemic. As experts the world over have been stressing, home isolation is the only way forward to tackle the novel coronavirus and prevent its spread.

The total number of those affected by COVID-19 in the country has risen to 492. The pandemic has reached almost all states barring some in North-east India and has claimed 9 lives, while 43 have recovered so far.

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is likely to announce the results of its next round of tests which would be critical in determining whether there has been community transmission.