New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged people not to panic due to coronavirus scare and rather focus on taking precautions to combat the spread of the pandemic in the country. He also urged people to avoid all non-essential travel while adding that no ministers of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days, as a precautionary measure.
The Prime Minister expressed his concern on the matter via Twitter even as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Health Ministry held separate media briefings on the outbreak.
“The Government is fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries & states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from suspension of Visas to augmenting healthcare capacities,” he tweeted.
The PM also urged people to avoid large gatherings. “Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings,” he said in another tweet.
As per the latest data released by the Health Ministry, 73 coronavirus cases have been reported in the country. With COVID-19 been declared as pandemic by WHO now, India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15.
