In dark shadow of corona

Team Udayavani, Mar 13, 2020, 1:27 PM IST

Bengaluru: The coronavirus outbreak which has created a sense of fear among public worldwide has become a cause of worry for the state with as many as six positive cases, including India’s first COVID-19 death being reported in Karnataka.

The world’s most worrisome contagion in years, COVID-19 has affected economies globally and the country’s information technology capital is too not left behind.

Impact of Coronavirus in Bengaluru:

Decreased footfall in malls and movie halls

Few people are visiting movie theatres. Dr Shivaraj Kumar-starrer ‘Drona” movie is being screened at the Yashwantpur’s Govardhana and in a theatre at Majestic. While the actor does have a massive fan following, most of the seats in the theatre are empty owing to the coronavirus scare.

People are hesitant to visit a theatre out of fear of getting infected.

Tuesday (March 10) also saw sparse vehicular traffic on state capital’s roads, which have topped the world in traffic jams. Mysore Road, Vijayanagar, Jayanagar, KR Road and many other roads were near empty.

No jolly this Holi

Corona also caused major bottlenecks in the celebration of Holi across the city.

Most high star-rated hotels organise special Holi events which were very much low brow this year.

Vendors of powdered colours for Holi celebrations too suffered loses to the point that some were not even able to cover their invested amount.

KSRTC passenger traffic sees 20% decline

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) reported a decline of almost 20% in its passenger traffic. The decline has also affected its deluxe Airavat and Flybus services.

The Corporation has provided facial masks to most of its staff. Its also providing anti-bacterial sanitizing liquid inside the buses and sanitising the buses with anti-viral solution along with fumigation.

KSRTC bus stands too are being cleaned and sanitized regularly and instructions are being provided on the spread of the virus through jingles.

Drunk driving more life-threatening than COVID-19

Many appeals were made to not conduct breath analyser tests to detect drunk driving cases, as they may spread the virus, however city police vehemently denied it.

The police speaking to reporters on Tuesday, March 10 stated that drunk driving is more life-threatening than COVID-19 and hence more stringent checks are being put in place across the city.

Police more prone to virus infection

Police personnel come in contact with the general public every day, thus making them more prone to the virus.

For this reason the State’s chief secretary conducted a session for the police personnel appraising them about the virus and instructing them on dealing with any suspected cases and maintaining hygiene in police stations.

Corona go back events cancelled due to coronavirus

Many organisations who had planned to hold protests across the city on the spread of the virus have postponed it.

A mass event such as a protest will cause the virus to spread faster and hence the city’s commissioner had asked the organisers to postpone it.

2,666 people came in contact with COVID-19 patient

The techie who tested positive with COVID-19 had come into contact with 2,666 people including his family.

More than 100 have already been screened. The techie’s house and office has also been sanitized.

Many more people from that group will be screened in the coming days and have been quarantined.

Auto drivers feel the brunt

Many autorickshaw drivers too have faced the brunt of the virus. One driver stated that his income has fallen from Rs 1500 per day to Rs 300 per day now.

The driver further stated that if there is no solution found to this virus outbreak then many autorickshaw drivers’ lives will be devastated.

Hourly clean up

All metro stations in the city are being cleaned every hour now. Special inspectors have been assigned to check that the cleanup is properly done.

All metro passengers have been instructed to wear face masks while travelling in metro trains.

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) too has seen a marginal decline in the commuters travelling in its buses.

Majestic and Shantinagar bus stands are seeing fewer commuter footfall.

BMTC has stuck information boards regarding the virus however many are not taking the risk of travelling in crowded buses.