The Center on Tuesday (September 15) responded to a question by Congress leader Manish Tiwari as to why the nationwide lockout was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on just four hours' notice.
The government said the move was taken on the recommendation of experts as there was a danger of the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 due to movement of people.
Congress MP Tiwari had asked, "What are the reasons for which the lockdown was imposed on only four hours notice on 23 March? What was the urgency for the lockdown to be implemented in such a short time in the country? Is the lockdown enabled?" To stop COVID-19?
In a written reply on behalf of the government, Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai said that after the outbreak of coronovirus on 7 January, the government had taken several measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including restrictions on international flights, issuance of advisories. Public and quarantine facilities etc.
The government said that the voice of people from one state to another could have spread the disease very fast. Therefore, keeping in view the global experience, a nationwide lockout was announced on 24 March to prevent coronavirus in the country.
Rai stated in his written reply that India successfully thwarted the aggressive proliferation of COVID-19 through nationwide lockout. He said the lockdown helped the country develop the necessary additional health infrastructure.
There was an increase of 22 times in isolation beds and 14 times in ICU beds compared to their availability in March 2020. At the same time, the capacity of laboratories had also increased tenfold. Rai also said in his written reply that if the government had not imposed a lockout, 14-29 lakh more cases would have been registered in the country.