Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's 'Janta Curfew' kicks in; city streets deserted

In a tweet, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan endorsed the 'Janata Curfew' that is set to kick in at 7 am on Sunday. PM Narendra Modi had announced the self-imposed curfew initiative in his address to the nation on Thursday in the wake of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Khan called for prayers for those "working day and night" to keep others safe, in a clear reference to health workers battling the outbreak.

Moments before the 'Janta Curfew' kicks in, PM Narendra Modi asked fellow Indians to be part of this curfew and appealed them to stay indoors and healthy. This was his first tweet of the day.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah pledged to strictly follow PM Modi's Janta curfew and urged Indians to do so as the curfew kicked in.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP chief JP Nadda joined in the Janta curfew.

Indian cities join the Janta curfew. Streets seen deserted.

Baba Ramdev joins Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami. at the Republic Studio to join for special #IndiaComeTogether coverage, as the country follows PM Modi's Janta Curfew.

"We will together fulfill the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will all save India from Corona(virus). Meditation, caution, patience and an oath. Everybody conduct self-analysis, Yoga, Aasan (Posture exercise), Pranayam, Meditation, Satsang (Spiritual discourse), Don't go out, go in," Baba Ramdev had tweeted earlier in Hindi. 

Delhi Metro rail services remained suspended on Sunday in the view of 'Janta curfew' being observed from 7 am to 9 pm in a bid to counter the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Locals across the lengths and breadth of the country distributed hand sanitizers and face masks to people amid the soaring Coronavirus scare and cases in India. 

Fitness guru Micky Mehta speaks to Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on Republic. Speaking to Republic, he said, "I've been telling my friends to replace fear with faith. Instead of hoarding groceries, hoard faith and optimism." "Our immunity should always be enhanced with breathing. Breathing is very primary to immunity," he added.

Delhi Police distributed roses to people who were spotted on the streets on the day of 'Janta Curfew' and encouraged them to wear masks, stay indoors and take precautions amid the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Nutrition and exercise science expert Rutuja Diwekar offers a range of tips to combat the Coronavirus outbreak as the country observes Janta Curfew. She said, "What I have included in my plans are simple things, like dal chawal (rice and dal), besan ka chilla (flour pancakes). I am also using the quarantine plan to revive our forgotten nutritious food. There used to be this tradition to make pickle, papad, laddoos, I think this week is a wonderful opportunity to revive that."

Endorsing the Janta Curfew, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath urged people the maintain social distancing and said that the state government has taken measures. 

"Janta Curfew is being observed across the country today. It is a battle against Coronavirus. Social distancing is the best way to defeat the pandemic and prevent its spread. State govt has taken all essential measures to fight COVID-19," Yogi Adityanath said. 

Ramakanta Panda the Chief Cardiovascular Surgeon & MD of Mumbai's Asian Heart Institute advising people amid the COVID-19 outbreak said, "Don't panic and don't be careless." "Don't panic, because 95% this is not at all dangerous. But at the same time, you have to understand that 80% of patients don't get any symptoms. This is not one day, we have to follow it probably for weeks and months. One person can spread it to one lakh person and 100 people can spread it to one crore people. So be careful" he added.
 

India Gate, New Delhi 

Howrah Bridge, Kolkata 

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata 

READ| India's icons lonely but beautiful on Janta Curfew as country unites by staying at home

Marine Drive, Mumbai  

Heena Sidhu, Dr Pawan Goenka, and Leander Paes join Republic's special broadcast with Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami.

Singer Shankar Mahadevan gave a musical tribute to India as the country observes Janta Curfew proposed by Prime Minister Modi on March 22. In an interaction with Arnab, he said, "Irrespective of the political party, profession, all of us have come together, we have understood the cause, this war that we are fighting, which we are going to win for sure." In addition, he urged people to not break the chain, as it is an 'ingenious step' by Prime Minister Modi.

Mohandas Pai expressed his happiness towards India's response to the Janta Curfew proposed by the government amid the COVID-19 outbreak. He said, "What is heartening is how India responds - we've seen negativity over few things last few weeks, but everyone has united to answer the PM's call."

Bollywood personalities actor Vivek Oberoi and singer Bappi Lahiri observed Janta Curfew and interacted with Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami. 

Breaking the news on Republic, Dr. Devi Shetty said that 'Karnataka will become the first in the country where there will be 2500 beds available for Covonavirus, with ICU facilities.' 
 

Adnan Sami in interaction with Arnab Goswami sang his iconic 'Lift Kara De' on Republic's special edition of #IndiaComeTogether. 

Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand and Mahesh Jethmalani joined Republic's special broadcast as the country observes Janta Curfew on March 22.