Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu: Governor, leaders urge people to follow complete lockdown

Mar 25, 2020, 02.47 PM IST

CHENNAI: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced nationwide lockdown for 21 days starting at midnight on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and various political party leaders asked people to stay at their homes.

People who have been instructed to undergo home quarantine must follow it scrupulously. People should not put their lives and those of their near and dear ones in danger. People should keep social distancing, but at the same time should not panic, said Purohit in a statement.

The governor said all essential commodities would be provided by the state government. Noting that it was a challenging situation, he said spread of Covid-19 could be checked only if people stayed at home and broke the chain.

The state government was taking all efforts to control the spread of the virus. It was also doing everything possible to support vulnerable sections of society, he said and added, “I appreciate the state government for taking many proactive steps. I have full trust in the people of Tamil Nadu, let's fight this challenge together”.

DMK president M K Stalin, in a Facebook post, welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement. “I welcome the lockdown for 21 days announced by the Prime Minister. Let us ourselves follow social distancing to prevent the virus from spreading further,” said Stalin.

He said there was no other way to escape from the infection. By fully cooperating with the lockdown, each individual would be safeguarding himself as well as the country, said Stalin.

PMK founder S Ramadoss asked housewives to take charge and implement complete lockdown. No one should be allowed to venture out of their homes, he said. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan also urged people to stay indoors.