How India Reacted To Its First Ever 'Janta Curfew', In A Bid To Slow Down Coronavirus
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the entire population to abide by the 'Janta Curfew' which was to prevail for a 14-hour time period from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM on March 22. This curfew came into effect as not just India, but the entire world, continues to suffer at the hands of the novel pandemic COVID-19.
In order to contain the infection and not have it spread any further, the Indian government has taken measures and requested people to follow the curfew guidelines, which, if simply put, means the entire population should stay at home.
AFP
India has witnessed six deaths and over 350 positive cases of the Coronavirus, while the world's death-toll is in thousands.
In order to make sure that the 'Janta curfew' is a success, Indian states have taken certain measures. Starting with the capital, Delhi has shut down the running of the city's most-used mode of public transport - the metro. Apart from that, the Delhi police is also handing out flowers to those who have stepped out of their homes in order to kindly advise them to head back indoors.
Twitter/ANI
Down south, Chennai has put up hoardings and boards outside Marina beach to announce that the famous tourist hot-spot is closed. Apart from that, police is present in adequate numbers to ensure that the curfew protocol is followed diligently.
Four cities in Gujarat have declared a complete shutdown until March 25, and its neighbouring state Rajasthan will remain shut until the end of the month.
In the city of dreams, the Mumbai government has shut down the running of its local trains and buses in order to prevent people from travelling and thereby abiding by the rules of the curfew and staying at home.
AFP
Experts are lauding the government for this initiative that was much-needed and will probably be required to continue in a much bigger capacity. In a video posted by the government on Twitter (MyGov India), Dr Arvind Kumar, Chairman, Centre for Chest Surgery, Sir Gangaram Hospital said, "This is the first major step to prevent person-to-person transmission of the Sars-CoV-2 virus. First, this move will help in checking the spread of virus from the infected people to others. And secondly, it is an opportunity for the people of the country to test themselves for bigger challenges that lie ahead, as Prime Minister said."
People are sharing their thoughts on Twitter on the 'Janta curfew'.
Have seen this view many times from my hotel room over the years but not with less than 1000 cars on it........#India is having a curfew today for 14 hours to fight #covid_19 it¡¯s looks like it¡¯s being followed ???
¡ª Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) March 22, 2020
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.#jantacurfew #modi #stayathome #corona #covid_19 #seagate pic.twitter.com/KsY5adOjQX
Let's break the chain together and set an example to the world.
¡ª Chacha Ji ?? (@Gold_Flaker) March 22, 2020
It's not forced curfew
¡ª ??????? (@ramsaysthetruth) March 22, 2020
It's #JantaCurfew
Self imposed
We are all in it together and we will fight together by staying away from each other
Proud of my Indian brothers and sisters.
Proud to be INDIAN
??
Rare sight of Mumbai Juhu Beach....?
¡ª Adarsh Hegde (@adarshhgd) March 22, 2020
Janta Curfew ??#JantaCurfew pic.twitter.com/Zh7lWic0me
14 hours isn't gonna solve anything........They gotta do "lockdown mode" like most places in the states are doing.....
¡ª Nick Mantia (@nikko5170) March 22, 2020
Yes, India unites to kill and crush that nasty virus.
¡ª #DevenderShekhar (@DevenderShekhar) March 22, 2020
And it is completely voluntary. Just one appeal from the PM
¡ª Abhijeet Stay At Home Rao ?? (@raoabhijeet) March 22, 2020
12:00 PM in #chennai And it is completely voluntary. Just one appeal from the PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/mdrUa7PyaR
¡ª Arush OBEROY (@ArushOberoy) March 22, 2020
Let's hope that this initiative helps us break the chain and prevents the situation from becoming worse.
