Lok Sabha Question No. 437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Nation wide Lockdown
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 437

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020/ BHADRAPADA 24, 1942 (SAKA)

## NATION WIDE LOCKDOWN

437. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  exact  inputs  that  impelled  the  Government  to initiate a nation wide lockdown in the country to combat COVID-19 on 23rd March 2020;
- (b) the reasons why the lockdown was initiated at a mere four hours notice on 23rd March 2020 and the urgency that the country had to be locked down at such short notice;
- (c) the details of notifications /clarifications/ amendments/ addendums/ corrigenda issued by the Ministry under the National Disaster Management  Act  and  the  Epidemic  Diseases  Act  to  implement  the lockdown between 23rd of March -1st September 2020 to implement various phases of the lockdown;
- (d)  whether  the  lockdown  has  been  successful  in  preventing  the proliferation of COVID-19; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) & (b): Soon  after  the outbreak  of  novel  coronavirus    on  7 th January, 2020, several measures like progressive tightening of international  travel,  issuing  advisories  for  members  of  the  public,

## L.S.US.Q.NO.437 FOR 15.09.2020

setting up quarantine facilities etc. were  taken  by  the Central Government to contain the spread of COVID-19. World Health Organization  (WHO)  declared  COVID-19  as  pandemic  on  11 th   March, 2020.  Experts,  keeping  in  view  the  global  experiences  of  countries which  have  been  successful  in  containing  the  spread  of  COVID-19, unlike some others where many people died, have recommended that effective  measures  for  social  distancing  should  be  taken  to  contain the spread of this pandemic.

Between  16-23  March,  2020,  most  of  the  States  Governments/UTs resorted to partial or full lockdown in their respective State/UT based upon their assessment of the situation.

COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease. Any mass movement of people would have spread the disease very fast amongst people in all parts of the country.

Taking into consideration the above facts, the global experience and the  need  for  consistency  in  the  approach  and  implementation  of various  containment  measures  across  the  country,  a  Nationwide lockdown was announced on 24 th  March, 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

## L.S.US.Q.NO.437 FOR 15.09.2020

(c): All guidelines/clarifications/ amendments/ addendums, etc, issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  and  Ministry  of  Health and  Family  Welfare  (MoHFW)  are  available  at  websites  of  MHA  & MoHFW (www.mha.gov.in)and (www.mohfw.gov.in) respectively.

(d)  and  (e):  By  imposing  country-wide  lock-down,  India  successfully blunted  the  aggressive  spread  of  COVID.  The  period  of  lockdown helped the nation create much required additional health infrastructure. During this time, dedicated isolation beds recorded an increase of 22 times and dedicated ICU beds above 14 times to what existed in March 2020. Similarly, laboratory capacity for testing COVID was increased nearly 10 times during this period. Similarly, the limited indigenous  manufacturing  capacity  available  for  masks,  personal protective equipments, ventilators, etc. at the time of lockdown, was also enhanced to attain self-reliance.

It has been estimated that the decision of Lockdown, by slowing down the spread of pandemic in India, has prevented 14-29 lakh cases and 37-78 thousand deaths.

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