Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an address to the nation amidst the Covid-19 crisis in the nation has asked the states to keep lockdown as the last resort and focus on micro-containment zones. 

"I urge the States to consider lockdowns only as the last option and focus creating on micro containment zones," said PM Narendra Modi. 

He further cleared the air on the rumors of lockdown and said there is a need to spread awareness. He has also urged the citizens to strictly adhere to the Covid-19 protocols to keep virus at bay so no other lockdown can be in place.

"There's need to spread awareness and guard against rumors; We need to guard against lockdowns and states also need to understand that," PM said.

" If we all follow COVID-19 protocols, there'll be no need to impose lockdowns," he reiterated. 

Also Read: PM Modi to address to the nation at 8:45 pm amidst second wave of Covid-19

PM Modi's address came shortly after he interacted with the vaccine manufacturers to scale up the production of the vaccination so Indians could be inoculated at the earliest. 

India on Tuesday has recorded 2,59,170 new infection cases in the 24 hours with which the tally mounted to 1,53, 21,089 while the active caseload has surpassed the mark of 20 lakh, according to data of the Union Health Ministry.