Covid 19 - Bangalore Update
Of course, the only thing that anyone is talking about at the moment is Coranvirus and the impacts on our daily lives. As I write this here in Bangalore, India has suspended all visas, except for diplomats, employment visas and couple of others. This basically means that only Indian passport holders are able to enter India until 15th April (at this time, and I have little confidence this will be lifted at that time). So, if we leave India now, we are not sure if/when we would be able to get back in, and then we would still be forced in to quarantine - most likely at a government hospital facility !!! That really doesn't sound like fun……. So, we have decided to ride it out here in India and enjoy the Bangalore sunshine - that's about all there is to enjoy at this time.
There have been a number of reports and negative news stories about the inaccuracy or the 'covering up' of the real virus numbers here in India. The distinction needs to be made between lies v the number of tests actually being done. I am not saying that the current number of 90 confirmed cases, is the only number of cases here but the 'ability' to get tested, and the number of people being tested appears to be accurate. People are just not being tested !! The Indian government are trying to stem the impact but with a population fo a billion, it's going to be tough. As much as India is the world's largest democracy, there is a very different process to places like Australia and the US. The government seems to have the ability to enforce bandh's, closures and other decisions similar to communist nations. Examples, such as the approach to closing things down for this pandemic and the demonisation of the rupee shows that the government has the ability and strength to enforce things that would not occur elsewhere as quickly.
On Friday, there was an announcement made that there was a forced closure of all malls, theatres, pubs, and bars in Bangalore for a week. Now, many immediately shut their doors and will remain shut. However, in true Indian style, some places remained open, especially bars and pubs. As most of the 'food stores' that we frequent are in these malls and the decision was made SO quickly, we have a shortage of everything. Food delivery services are having issues with little to no stock and some communities are not allowing deliveries in due to the potential spread of the virus. Our gated community has gone a little bonkers with some of the community members requesting for people to up-skill on the running of the electricity back-up, sewerage system, water purification and garbage collection……. people are not happy and the cracks are beginning to appear amongst the residents.
There have been reports in the news of people being arrested for spreading fake news on social media. Stories of 'radical Swami's' holding parties where they encourage people to drink cow urine to cure you of the dreaded virus. And here in Bangalore, they are still having issues with H1N1, so the confusion in many of the 'tech parks' is actually 'what' you are sick with and how many people are being exposed to whichever virus you may be carrying. It's a minefield.
It was only a matter of time until schools were affected here in Bangalore by the Coronavirus pandemic, and last week our school closed and I am now a 'homeschooling, working parent' ! That phrase definitely doesn't fill me with joy. We are about to start the second week of this and I am feeling more confident that we will all be alive at the end of Week 2. I have spent the weekend, catching up on things with work, cooking a stockpile of foods for the ever hungry boys (I miss the school cafeteria so much now) and planning the timetable for the week ahead. Wish me luck !!
On a final note, the traffic congestion hasn't changed much and it is still chaos, and shit definitely got real on Thursday, when the start of the IPL cricket season was postponed - if cricket is being cancelled, life in India is not as we know it ! Stay safe and healthy everyone. x
There have been a number of reports and negative news stories about the inaccuracy or the 'covering up' of the real virus numbers here in India. The distinction needs to be made between lies v the number of tests actually being done. I am not saying that the current number of 90 confirmed cases, is the only number of cases here but the 'ability' to get tested, and the number of people being tested appears to be accurate. People are just not being tested !! The Indian government are trying to stem the impact but with a population fo a billion, it's going to be tough. As much as India is the world's largest democracy, there is a very different process to places like Australia and the US. The government seems to have the ability to enforce bandh's, closures and other decisions similar to communist nations. Examples, such as the approach to closing things down for this pandemic and the demonisation of the rupee shows that the government has the ability and strength to enforce things that would not occur elsewhere as quickly.
On Friday, there was an announcement made that there was a forced closure of all malls, theatres, pubs, and bars in Bangalore for a week. Now, many immediately shut their doors and will remain shut. However, in true Indian style, some places remained open, especially bars and pubs. As most of the 'food stores' that we frequent are in these malls and the decision was made SO quickly, we have a shortage of everything. Food delivery services are having issues with little to no stock and some communities are not allowing deliveries in due to the potential spread of the virus. Our gated community has gone a little bonkers with some of the community members requesting for people to up-skill on the running of the electricity back-up, sewerage system, water purification and garbage collection……. people are not happy and the cracks are beginning to appear amongst the residents.
There have been reports in the news of people being arrested for spreading fake news on social media. Stories of 'radical Swami's' holding parties where they encourage people to drink cow urine to cure you of the dreaded virus. And here in Bangalore, they are still having issues with H1N1, so the confusion in many of the 'tech parks' is actually 'what' you are sick with and how many people are being exposed to whichever virus you may be carrying. It's a minefield.
It was only a matter of time until schools were affected here in Bangalore by the Coronavirus pandemic, and last week our school closed and I am now a 'homeschooling, working parent' ! That phrase definitely doesn't fill me with joy. We are about to start the second week of this and I am feeling more confident that we will all be alive at the end of Week 2. I have spent the weekend, catching up on things with work, cooking a stockpile of foods for the ever hungry boys (I miss the school cafeteria so much now) and planning the timetable for the week ahead. Wish me luck !!
On a final note, the traffic congestion hasn't changed much and it is still chaos, and shit definitely got real on Thursday, when the start of the IPL cricket season was postponed - if cricket is being cancelled, life in India is not as we know it ! Stay safe and healthy everyone. x
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