Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation on March 24 in what will be his second address in as many weeks about the coronavirus outbreak. PM Modi’s nation-wide address will start at 8 pm, just like last week. In a tweet on Tuesday morning, the prime minister said that he will talk about the vital aspects relating to the menace of COVID-19.

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“Will address the nation at 8 PM today, 24th March 2020, on vital aspects relating to the menace of COVID-19,” PM Narendra Modi tweeted.

In his 30-minute speech last week, the prime minister had urged people to observe a self-imposed Janta Curfew which was held on this Sunday. The prime minister said that even as it may seem that India has been relatively protected from the Covid-19 outbreak, it was not true. "For the last few days, it looks like if we are safe from [novel] coronavirus. This belief is not right,” he had said. 

The PM said that while the government was keeping a close watch on the track record of the spread of novel coronavirus, for a developing country like India with a large population, novel coronavirus was not a normal situation. "Hence, it is very important for every Indian to remain aware and alert," the prime minister said.

He had assured everyone that supply of essential services will not be hampered while the country fights the disease. PM had also urged people with a relatively better financial situation to be kind and humane towards their employees or domestic help during the time of crisis. 

Nearly 500 coronavirus cases have been reported in India so far, according to Health Ministry data on Tuesday. As cases of the viral infection surged, authorities have put almost the entire country under lockdown, banning gathering of people and suspending road, rail and air traffic till March 31.