Assam: Guwahati Residents Maintain 'Social Distance' While Shopping Essentials amid Corona Lockdown

Guwahati, March 27, 2020:

Keeping up with the rest of the nation's 'social distance' policy while shopping essential items amid lockdown, Guwahati residents on Friday were also seen in circles made at a metre's distance in Six Mile market area.

Buyers in Guwahati's Six Mile area stood in long queues while maintaining the standard social distance, thereby bringing the much-needed relief to the Guwahati authorities.

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The Kamrup district administration had introduced a slew of preventive measures to adopt while coming out for shopping. One of these was to maintain social distance from one another in public places that are at high risk of sheltering the coronavirus. People across Assam on day one of the nationwide lockdown were seen in circles, along with the rest of the country.

Guwahati's Six Mile market is one of the busiest and most preferred locations for vegetables and fruits. On a regular day, crowd could be seen thronging these markets. However, on a Friday morning, the market wore a strict disciplinary look for the good of the people. Every single person was seen maintaining a social distance from each other in the market area.

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While speaking with Inside Northeast, a buyer said, "I have already passed 62 years of age. I had never seen anything like this since then. But it is disease of the whole world and human beings. The district authorities have made these circles, one metre away from one other."

He shared a message for all his fellow citizens of Assam on social distancing. "Everyone knows this. One-metre distance is the minimum way to keep the disease away. So, we should keep the maximum social distance we can."

It may be mentioned here that India has been locked down following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19. According to worldometers, the country has 733 positive COVID-19 cases. Six new cases have been reported as on Friday and the total death count has reached 20.

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Maharashtra has the highest number of positive cases -- 125, followed by Karnataka and Kerala and the rest of States have followed. In Northeast, Manipur and Mizoram have one positive case each and the other States are preparing to deal with a possible outbreak in the days ahead.

Markets in Assam have been kept open for the public for buying the essentials like groceries, medicines and essential services like banks are also open.

It needs mention that the authorities have introduced the one-metre distance concept because the coronavirus is spread from person to person when someone with the virus coughs or sneezes. Therefore, people in close contact are at high risk.

According to the health department, the respiratory droplets can land in your mouth or nose. Alternatively, droplets could land on your face, and the next time you touch your face, and then rub your eye, you could infect yourself.

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