Chennai, May 9(BPNS)
People of Chennai are into a buying spree as the state is going for a complete and total lockdown from May 10 to May 24. Most of the people are into filling their stocks with groceries, medicines, utensils, toiletries and other materials which are in need at home .
Manoj Nayayanan a stock market professional while speaking to BPNS said, “ I do know that the shops will be open and that there is not much need for a panic buying, but I will not go out of home for buying materials as there are possibilities of getting infected. Hence I have bought all that is necessary to run a home including cereals and pulses and the necessary medicines for my parents and other family members.”
While the state government has allowed shops to function upto 9pm on Sunday, from Monday onwards, fish and meat stalls will be allowed to function everyday till noon with 50% capacity.
Manoj says,” Unlike earlier lockdown this time people have got time to stock the necessary items and we have made use of this.”
Last April when the government announced a four day complete lockdown ,only a nine hour time was there and hence there was panic buying in all shops.
Another important factor pointed out by the health department officials is that the mask awareness has not yet reached the desired level. Police were also seen taking extra measures to find out whether people are wearing masks and have conducted awareness among the motorists on masks.
People are also travelling out of Chennai to their hometowns, especially IT professionals as they are able to work from home.
Srinivas Nair , an IT professional with an MNC while speaking to BPNS said ,”I am from Aluva in Kerala and I am driving down today and have already registered for the Kerala government. We can work from home and there is no point in staying here. However as Kerala is also on a lockdown, I have stocked the necessary items to tide over this period. I am driving down as almost all trains are cancelled and I don’t want to take a risk by travelling in a flight with others as I have my family with me.”
