After PMO India on its Twitter handle confirmed that PM Narendra Modi will address the nation on 19th March 2020 at 8 PM, some messages claiming that Modi will announce lockdown are going viral. Dismissing such messages claiming lockdown, Shashi Shekhar, who is CEO of Prasar Bharati (Doordarshan & All India Radio), has confirmed that this 'lockdown' information is incorrect.

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Shashi Shekhar tweeted, "Some media outlets are speculating that PM Modi will announce a lock down in his address. This information is incorrect. It will also create unnecessary panic in minds of people, which is the last thing we need in times like this."

On Wednesday, PMO India said that PM Narendra Modi will address the nation on Thursday 8 PM. During his address to the nation, the Prime Minister will talk about issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it. PMO India tweeted, "PM Shri @narendramodi will address the nation on 19th March 2020 at 8 PM, during which he will talk about issues relating to COVID-19 and the efforts to combat it."

On Wednesday, PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing efforts to contain COVID-19. During the meeting, ways to further strengthen India’s preparedness were discussed.

Also, PM Narendra Modi emphasised on actively engaging with individuals, local communities and organisations in chalking out mechanisms to fight the COVID-19 menace. He also urged officials and technical experts to deliberate on the steps to be taken next.

On March 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders and representatives from SAARC nations participated in a video conference to chalk out a joint strategy to fight the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 5,000 people worldwide. Apart from Modi, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza participated in the video conference.