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PM Modi speech LIVE: 'Efforts on to enhance medical oxygen supply across nation'

The address is expected to be focussed on the progressively worsening COVID-19 situation in the country

PM Modi has talked to various stakeholders about the COVID surge over the past few days

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8:45 PM on Tuesday. The address is expected to be focussed on the progressively worsening COVID-19 situation in the country.

The Prime Minister has held several meetings over the past few days with chief ministers, governors, senior central goverment officials, doctors, pharmaceutical industry players and vaccine manufacturers. The meetings were held in the backdrop of steep rise in coronavirus infections and the subsequent pressure on the national healthcare infrastructure.

With several states imposing restrictions on movement and other curbs to stop the spread of coronavirus, speculations are rife that similar steps, to a certain degree, might be announced by the Centre. The central government has already clarified that it will not go for a strict lockdown, as it did last year. PM Modi is expected to clear the air on this front.

PM Modi is also likely to address the stress on India's COVID-19 vaccination programme as the nation gets ready to move to its third phase, covering a wider population. Availability of vaccines, approving more jabs for the public are some of the topics that the Prime Minister might touch on.

All eyes will be on the address tonight as the public expects a solution to widespread scarcity of anti-COVID medication and medical oxygen.

Follow BusinessToday.In for the latest updates from PM Modi's address to the nation tonight:

8:49 PM: "We are promptly and sensitively working on the oxygen crisis. We are trying to ensure that every patient gets oxygen," says PM Modi.

8:47 PM: "I appreciate all the doctors, nursing staff, paramedics, sanitation workers, policemen of the nation. You worked selflessly during the first wave, and are again doing the same today," says PM Modi.

8:47 PM: Those who lost their near ones, I stand with you as a family member, says PM Modi

8:45 PM: PM Modi begins his address to the nation.

8:37 PM: Prime Minister Modi met vaccine manufacturers from across the country on Tuesday, applauding their achievements and professionalism. He urged them to continuously scale up the production capacity of COVID-19 vaccines to vaccinate more people in the shortest possible time.