Naveen Patnaik has called to support the 21-day nationwide lockdown announced by the Prime Minister

 ✔@Naveen_Odisha

  It is an extremely challenging race against time to stop #COVID19. As the pandemic is spreading across the world, it is time to be together as a nation at this hour of crisis and support the appeal of PM @narendramodi ji. #CoronavirusLockdown

“To save India and every Indian, there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes,” Modi said, adding that if the country failed to manage the next 21 days, it could be set back by 21 years.

India’s stay-at-home order puts nearly one-fifth of the world’s population under lockdown.

In recent days, India has been gradually expanding stay-at-home orders and has banned international and domestic flights and suspended passenger service on its extensive rail system.

Essential service providers, including hospitals, police and media had been exempted from the stay-in-place orders, and many grocery stores and pharmacies remained open.

Modi called Tuesday’s order a “total lockdown” and did not address whether any service providers would be exempt, but said that “all steps have been taken by central and state government to ensure supply of essential items.”