The nation should not go soft in the fight against the Covid pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an address to the nation on Tuesday evening.

“In recent times, we have all seen many pictures and videos in which it is clear that many people have stopped taking precautions now. This is not right,” he said. “If you are careless, walking out without a mask, you are putting yourself, your family, your children and the elderly in trouble.” He pointed out that in the US and European countries, Covid-19 cases saw spikes after seeming to come down.

“Until success is achieved, do not be negligent. Until the vaccine arrives, we should not let our fight with Coronavirus weaken,” he added.

Indians have come a long way since the ‘Janata Curfew’ that was launched on March 22, said Modi, adding: “But we must not forget that even though the lockdown is gone, the virus is not gone.”

Economic activities are on the rise now, said the Prime Minister. “Most of us are stepping out of our homes every day to fulfil our responsibilities, to speed up life again,” he said.

“Today, the recovery rate in the country is good. The fatality rate is low. India is succeeding in saving the lives of more and more of its citizens than the resource-rich countries. The growing number of tests in the fight against Covid-19 has been one of our major strengths,” Modi said.

The fatality rate in India is 83 for one million population, vis-à-vis 600 in countries such as the US, Brazil and Spain, he added.

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