The Conversation (0)
Sirena Bergman
Mar 22, 2020
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More than 1 billion people in India have been ordered to stay home for 14 hours today, as part of the country's effort to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the curfew last week, which requires people stay home from 7am to 9pm today.
India has currently recorded 315 cases of Covid-19, but with infection increasing elsewhere, the government wants to test plans to potentially put in place a social distancing or self-isolate plan to avoid it getting worse. A number of cities have already enforced complete or partial shutdowns.
While accross much of Europe and the US people appear to be struggling to take the instructions seriously, it seems in India people were more willing to oblige.
Over the course of the day photos and videos have emerged of a deserted country.
Usually bustling train platforms are empty.
Mumbai: Empty platforms at Nahur station on central line in Mumbai. #JantaCurfew #CautionYesPanicNo https://t.co/HeNB8mGjx7— TOI Mumbai (@TOI Mumbai) 1584847592
A deserted Kanpur central railway station in view of #JantaCurfew #Covid_19india #CautionYesPanicNo https://t.co/FjXZ07Qd0l— TOI Kanpur (@TOI Kanpur) 1584845440
As are beaches, where seagulls (and dogs) now have free reign.
#CarterRoad #Bandra #Mumbai #JantaCurfew https://t.co/n03DZ8CCnV— Rohit Khilnani (@Rohit Khilnani) 1584846524
#JantaCurfew underway in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi amid rising #coronavirus cases in India. #CautionYesPanicNo… https://t.co/zHCuZXIkdt— The Times Of India (@The Times Of India) 1584845369
And even parks.
#JantaCurfew Sunday morning. Well done, a good start. https://t.co/oXE1YDFtLQ— Anuj Singhal अनुज सिंघल (@Anuj Singhal अनुज सिंघल) 1584845011
Huge roads and motorways are eerily free of traffic.
Deserted Bandra Reclamation due to #JantaCurfew #CautionYesPanicNo https://t.co/EQzpmL0uwj— TOI Mumbai (@TOI Mumbai) 1584846059
Empty roads in Delhi for the #JantaCurfew at 830AM. Disclaimer: **I'm only out because I have to be & heading hom… https://t.co/4IRuNUZKTP— Priyanka Deo Jain (@Priyanka Deo Jain) 1584846411
And shops and restaurants have completely shut down.
With deserted streets, Maharashtra's Buldhana observes #JantaCurfew https://t.co/xoIIr7AT8R— DD News (@DD News) 1584846407
Hear the birds? Silent streets in Itanagar pave way for a "chirpy" #JantaCurfew morning https://t.co/PXnOa2yN3I— DD News (@DD News) 1584846651
Some key workers are still out, but taking as much precaution as possible.
Workers in Lucknow cleaning the intersection at Munshipulia , one of Lucknow ‘s most congested areas but totally em… https://t.co/SNEmX8FKHw— Alok Pandey (@Alok Pandey) 1584844720
And others got creative with honouring those still fighting the outbreak.
My nephews & their dad held a music gig on the balcony today dedicated to those working tirelessly to battle… https://t.co/NPZeRiszLC— Piya Sharma (@Piya Sharma) 1584891723
The prime minister has encouraged all citizens to come out onto their balconies at 5pm to clap and ring bells in a show of appreciation for medical professionals and sanitation workers who were unable to stay inside.