Indian PM rules out lockdown despite second wave of COVID-19

NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday ruled out a lockdown amid the second wave of COVID-19 in the country.

Addressing the nation on TV for the first time amid the second wave of COVID-19, Modi also appealed to state governments to consider lockdown as a "last resort."

The prime minister said that serious efforts were being made to ensure enough production and supply of oxygen across the country, especially those cities where it is required urgently.

He said that unlike last year when COVID-19 had initially struck, the country is better placed now. "We have enough medical facilities to curb the pandemic spread," he said.

Modi appealed to the people not to panic, strictly follow the COVID-19 protocols and not move out of homes until urgently required.

"We will overcome the second wave of the pandemic like we did last time."

India's COVID-19 death toll reached 180,530 on Tuesday. Besides, as many as 259,170 new cases were recorded between Monday and Tuesday, taking the total tally to 15,321,089.

There are still a total of 2,031,977 active cases in the country, with an increase of 102,648 active cases through Monday, even as 13,108,582 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals so far across the country.

新德里——印度总理纳伦德拉·莫迪周二排除了在该国第二波新冠肺炎浪潮中实施封锁的可能性。在第二波新冠肺炎浪潮中，莫迪首次在电视上向全国发表讲话，他还呼吁各州政府将封锁视为“最后手段”总理说，正在做出认真的努力，以确保全国各地有足够的氧气生产和供应，特别是那些急需氧气的城市。他说，与去年新冠肺炎最初发动袭击时不同，现在这个国家处于更好的位置。“我们有足够的医疗设施来遏制大流行的蔓延，”他说。莫迪呼吁人们不要惊慌，严格遵守新冠肺炎协议，在紧急需要之前不要离开家园。“我们将像上次一样战胜第二波疫情。”印度新冠肺炎死亡人数周二达到180，530人。此外，周一至周二期间记录了多达259，170起新病例，使总数达到15，321，089起。全国仍有2031977例活跃病例，截至周一，活跃病例增加了102648例，尽管全国迄今已有13108582人治愈出院。