India locked down: This is how the police and administration is ensuring 1.3 billion people maintain social distancing amidst coronavirus outbreak

The world’s largest democracy announced a total lockdown of 21 days starting midnight on 25 March, 2020 in a bid to curb the spread of Wuhan coronavirus. Videos have gone viral on social media where police administration can be seen taking steps to ensure that people adhere to the rules and are not loitering around, putting everyone’s health at risk.

https://twitter.com/AnjiOptimistic/status/1242683687835250698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Only essential goods and services like milk, groceries, fruits, vegetables, medicines are available and travel is also restricted for only emergency healthcare. In the above video, one can see police asking the man in a car to get off and asks him to put on the mask. The police is wearing protective gear as well. Later, the car is sanitised and he man is instructed that the police will escort his car to the hospital.

In an image shared by superstar Amitabh Bachchan, people can be seen standing in queue for groceries.

https://twitter.com/SrBachchan/status/1242691598468562944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

However, circles are made on ground to ensure people maintain social distancing. More visuals from Gujarat show people maintaining distance at grocery stores.

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Those in Jammu and Kashmir who were found flouting the lockdown rules were made to sit in circles made on roads to maintain social distancing.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1242676145327239168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Even the Union Cabinet meeting that took place today had social distancing in place.

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Union Minister Piyush Goyal took to Twitter to inform how the government is making sure the essentials like groceries food grains are in sufficient supply in states.

https://twitter.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1242697719832932352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

As we fight the pandemic, Amdavad Municipal Corporation workers have distributed food to the needy across the city. Restaurant owners have stepped up to help provide food to the people. The community has come together in this fight.

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As per the official government figures, as of now there are 512 active COVID-19 cases in India currently. 40 people have been cured and discharged. India has had 9 casualties due to coronavirus as of 9:15 AM today.