With COVID-19 on agenda, PM Modi dials political leaders and former PMs & Presidents

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to leaders of major political parties to discuss COVID-19 crisis. This included key opposition leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, K Chandrashekar Rao, and MK Stalin. Additionally, he also had a conversation with former Presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil and former PMs Dr.Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda regarding current situation. Currently, re are 3374 confirmed vel coronavirus cases in India out of which 277 people have recovered while 77 individuals have lost ir lives. 

Read: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's COVID-19 Tally Increases To 3374; 77 Casualties Reported

Read: Amit Malviya Shares Stats Showing Steep Spike In COVID Cases Due To Tablighi Jamaat

PM Modi's video conference with CMs

This development follows PM's video conference with Chief Ministers of all states on April 2. Highlighting that common goal was to ensure minimum loss of life, PM Modi ted that testing, tracing, isolation, and quarantine should remain areas of focus in next few weeks. PM also flagged necessity of maintaining supply of essential medical equipments and called for dedicated hospital facilities for COVID-19 patients. Ar important mess imparted by PM Modi was that Crisis Manment Groups needed to be set up at district level besides appointment of District Surveillance Officers.

While ackwledging that farming sector had been exempted under lockdown, he emphasised that social distancing should be practised.  PM also opined that it was crucial to formulate a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of population after end of lockdown period. He asked states to send ir suggestions regarding exit strategy. 

Read: COVID-19: CRPF Band Spreads Awareness Through Song, Croon 'corona Ko Harana Hai', Watch

'9 pm- 9 minutes' appeal

On April 3, PM Modi shared a video mess with people of India. He urged everyone to switch off lights at 9 pm on April 5 and light a lamp, candle or flashlights for 9 minutes to showcase unity in fight against vel coronavirus. However, PM cautioned against congregating for this purpose. 

Read: EXCLUSIVE: Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Adds Cool 'light Out' Effect To '9 Min' Covid Art