<p>Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday called for bold and immediate actions to check the spread of novel <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> as he favoured a complete lockdown in the country.</p>.<p>"Learn the lessons from Italy. Piecemeal measures will lag behind the spread of the disease. Act boldly, act now," he said on Twitter.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-karnataka-detects-one-more-positive-case-states-tally-climbs-to-16-799686.html"><b>Follow latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak here</b></a></p>.<p>"For nearly a week, I have pleaded for a lockdown throughout the country for 2-4 weeks. My plea was met with silence and, in some cases, by derisive trolls," he said.</p>.<p>The former finance minister said there will be massive economic pain. "But it is possible to handle the economic consequences than the loss of numerous live," he said.</p>.<p>The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 390 on Monday after 30 fresh cases were reported.</p>.<p>The figure includes 41 foreign nationals and the seven deaths reported so far.</p>.<p>Italy has been among the worst affected countries. </p>
<p>Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday called for bold and immediate actions to check the spread of novel <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> as he favoured a complete lockdown in the country.</p>.<p>"Learn the lessons from Italy. Piecemeal measures will lag behind the spread of the disease. Act boldly, act now," he said on Twitter.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-karnataka-detects-one-more-positive-case-states-tally-climbs-to-16-799686.html"><b>Follow latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak here</b></a></p>.<p>"For nearly a week, I have pleaded for a lockdown throughout the country for 2-4 weeks. My plea was met with silence and, in some cases, by derisive trolls," he said.</p>.<p>The former finance minister said there will be massive economic pain. "But it is possible to handle the economic consequences than the loss of numerous live," he said.</p>.<p>The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 390 on Monday after 30 fresh cases were reported.</p>.<p>The figure includes 41 foreign nationals and the seven deaths reported so far.</p>.<p>Italy has been among the worst affected countries. </p>