Covid 19 cases Hikes in Chennai because of Koyambedu Market
It was a move that was supposed to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in Tamilnadu’s urban areas. A total lockdown for four days in three municipalities chennai, coimbatore and madurai from april 26 to april 29, while salem and Tiruppur would witness similar restrictions for three days between april 26 to april 28. But instead, tamilnadu chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami’s announcement of a four-day lockdown was met with fear and panic. Residents in these cities, especially chennai, resorted to panic buying on april 25, rushing to grocery stores to hoard provisions, paying no attention to physical distancing as large crowds gathered outside supermarkets. This despite the state government making it clear that vegetables will be available (although only in push carts and mobile shops) during the four days.The same crowds were witnessed at markets the day after the full lockdown was eased in cities like Chennai.
Ramesh, an official from the Greater chennai Corporation told TNM that it was a natural human reaction. “People have been inside their houses for quite some time. So they behaved like school children when they stepped out. It is a natural reaction, which should have been anticipated when doing such announcements,” he said. However, he added that people must have awareness to adopt precautions when stepping out of their houses. A senior official in the government of tamilnadu told that it (possibility of higher cases) is definitely a cause for concern, more so since many residents in the containment zones are not wearing masks. He also pointed out that even when wearing masks, people don’t follow the right protocols like talking without lowering the masks and not touching the masks.
The district has witnessed a surge in the number of infections from the Koyambedu vegetable market cluster, which has since spread across the state. Over 300 cases of COVID-19 have been reported to have originated directly or indirectly from the Koyambedu market. Around 2000 persons in chennai alone have been traced and quarantined for having visited the market in the recent days and around 8000 persons are being traced and quarantined in other districts in Tamilnadu.