NewsGate Press Network

Within minutes of national telecast by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 21-day nationwide lockdown from Tuesday midnight in view of the coronavirus threat, reports across the nation suggested panic-buying of essential items.

Immediately after his addess to nation, Narendra Modi in a tweet appealed to people not to panic as this will pose the risk of spread of COVID-19.

“There is absolutely no need to panic; the Centre  and states will work together to ensure availability of essential commodities, medicines, etc,” the PM said.

The curfew like lockdown which started from mid-night 24-March-2020 will last till 14-April-2020.

However, people fearing shortage and rise in prices of the commodities queued up in front of grocery stores, vegetable vendors and medical shops.

Hectic-buying of food items which started after the ‘Janta curfew’ on Sunday and announcement of a lockdown by the Delhi government intensified shortly after the prime minister announced the nationwide lockdown on Tuesday.

The people feared that restrictions would only intensify further due to the coronavirus threat in the coming days, and the shortage of food items would accentuate.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued guidelines to be followed during the 21-day complete lockdown, assuring that fair price shops and those dealing with food, groceries, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, animal fodder will remain open.

Dense crowds were also seen outside medicine shops in the city.

Delhi has so far reported 30 cases of coronavirus, including two deaths.