Why '72 Hours' Is PM Narendra Modi's New Mantra For Fighting And Curbing Covid-19 Spread

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that it is important that all people who come in contact with a Covid-19 infected person must be tested within 72 hours.

PM Modi was addressing chief ministers of 10 states (Karnataka was represented by deputy CM) in a video conference session. He said that "the target of bringing down the fatality rate below 1% can be achieved soon."

These states have contributed 80 per cent of India's total number of coronavirus cases so far. These states are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, Bihar, Gujarat, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

He said that India needs "to follow a new mantra - all those who have come in contact with an infected person should be traced and tested within 72 hours."

PM Modi has said that India will win the ongoing battle against Covid-19 if the "infection is defeated in these ten states".

He said: "80% of active cases are from 10 states, if the virus is defeated here, the entire country will emerge victorious."

PM Modi said that each and every state is playing a significant role in the overall control of the spread of the disease.

He emphasised on the importance of diagnosing a Covid 19-infected person within 72 hours. He added that this would help in controlling the spread of the virus to a great extent.

The focus on diagnosing infected people, he said is the need of the hour and a new mantra for curbing the virus.

PM Modi said that it has emerged from discussions that "there is an urgent need to ramp up testing in Bihar, Gujarat, UP, West Bengal, and Telangana."

He said that containment, contact tracing, and surveillance are important and are the most effective weapons in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus and Covid-19.