There seems to be only one topic of conversation - coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease it causes. It all started in a city in China called Wuhan, in late December, and now it has spread to over 1 million people in a good number of countries around the world.
India's first patient was in my home state of Kerala - a student of Wuhan University tested positive on Jan 30. Since then many states of India have been reporting cases, most of them are returnees from China or Italy.
Yesterday, the city I live in currently, Bengaluru, reported its first patient. A computer engineer who returned from the United States on March 1. There are now four patients in the state of Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is the capital. More and more cities are reporting positive cases, and the total must now be around 50 in India. There are no deaths.
NO PANIC OR SCRAMBLE
I have been reading news reports from many countries regarding panic buying of essential daily requirements, fearing a shutdown. Nothing of that sort here.
The only time there is shutdown in India is when there is widespread violence, because of any social or economic unrest. That's when the government imposes curfew, and it's for at the most three or four days.
There are cases in India when people do indulge in panic buying. That's when there is an impending shortage of essential farm commodities, mainly vegetables or grains.
Here as of now, there is no panic, though everyone is taking precautionary steps. Schools have declared early summer vacation. Many public gatherings have been postponed or cancelled.
MISINFORMATION AND FALSEHOODS
Social media is flooded with information regarding medicines that can either protect people from the disease or cure them of it. I have been debunking these claims on some of my WhatsApp groups.
Such messages are dangerous because some people might actually think there are medicines that protect them, and won't take the required preventive steps, endangering their lives and that of others too. Such messages are best not passed around.
I have also been advising my friends and relatives not to believe anything unless it comes from a recognised medical authority or a government institution.
India's first patient was in my home state of Kerala - a student of Wuhan University tested positive on Jan 30. Since then many states of India have been reporting cases, most of them are returnees from China or Italy.
Yesterday, the city I live in currently, Bengaluru, reported its first patient. A computer engineer who returned from the United States on March 1. There are now four patients in the state of Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is the capital. More and more cities are reporting positive cases, and the total must now be around 50 in India. There are no deaths.
NO PANIC OR SCRAMBLE
I have been reading news reports from many countries regarding panic buying of essential daily requirements, fearing a shutdown. Nothing of that sort here.
The only time there is shutdown in India is when there is widespread violence, because of any social or economic unrest. That's when the government imposes curfew, and it's for at the most three or four days.
There are cases in India when people do indulge in panic buying. That's when there is an impending shortage of essential farm commodities, mainly vegetables or grains.
Here as of now, there is no panic, though everyone is taking precautionary steps. Schools have declared early summer vacation. Many public gatherings have been postponed or cancelled.
MISINFORMATION AND FALSEHOODS
Social media is flooded with information regarding medicines that can either protect people from the disease or cure them of it. I have been debunking these claims on some of my WhatsApp groups.
Such messages are dangerous because some people might actually think there are medicines that protect them, and won't take the required preventive steps, endangering their lives and that of others too. Such messages are best not passed around.
I have also been advising my friends and relatives not to believe anything unless it comes from a recognised medical authority or a government institution.