“Solidarity With India, Lockdown Comprehensive, Robust”: UN

The video also took note of the “janata curfew” observed across India on Sunday, when the country’s 1.3 billion citizens stayed at home from 7 am to 9 pm in an effort to practise social distancing.

Heeding to a call by PM Modi, people came out on their balconies, windows and courtyards to applaud the work of medical professionals on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19.

The normally bustling streets across India wore a deserted look throughout the day as people participated in the curfew. The UN News video showed footage of empty roads and urban spaces on Sunday, just two days before PM Modi announced the nationwide lockdown for three weeks.

“India is on a 21-day lockdown to try and prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from taking hold. The @UN health agency @WHO urged the Gov to take aggressive action,” UN News tweeted.

WHO Representative to India Henk Bekedam praised the country’s response to the pandemic, describing it as “comprehensive and robust”. “Massive efforts have been made towards prevention and containing the spread, including strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, contact tracing and isolation and risk communications,” Henk Bekedam said.

He said the Prime Minister’s call for social distancing had received widespread community support across the country. “It is vital that we come together in solidarity and help in breaking the chain of transmission and flattening the curve,” he said.

The WHO and other UN partners have been working closely with the Indian government on preparedness and response measures, disease surveillance, laboratory and research protocols, risk communications, training on infection prevention and control and cluster containment plan, surveillance and tracking of travellers.