COVID-19 Still Not Over, Warns PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: At a time when the world is getting increasingly panicky about the new coronavirus variant Omicron, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a word of warning for Indians on Sunday.

Delivering his 83rd ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode, Modi said the COVID-19 pandemic has not gone yet, and urged Indians to remain vigilant and adopt all possible precautions to ensure that the deadly disease doesn’t spread again.

“Never forget that corona has not gone yet. It is our responsibility to take all precautions,” Modi observed during his radio talk show.

Only yesterday, the PM chaired a high-level meeting to review COVID-19 and vaccination in the country, focusing on the more dangerous new variant which was first detected in South Africa and is spreading to Europe and Asia.

Two South African returnees, among 50-odd who had travelled from that country to Bengaluru in November, have tested COVID positive, triggering alarm bells in India. They have been kept in isolation and their samples sent for further tests to ascertain the variant.

Modi began the episode by paying tribute to the armed forces, noting that

With the 50th anniversary celebrations of India’s victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan to be held next month, Modi paid tribute to the Armed forces.

“In two days, the month of December is commencing. The country celebrates Navy Day and Armed Forces Flag Day. We all know that on 16th December, the country is also celebrating the golden jubilee year of the 1971 war. On this occasion, I want to remember our armed forces, our soldiers. Especially, the brave mothers who gave birth to these heroes,” Modi said.