In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, India, in which there are currently 500 confirmed cases, announced that the country will close its borders for 21 days starting on March 25. This move makes it the largest-scale lockdown undertaken by a country as 1.3 billion people will be ordered to stay home.


Indian Capital New Delhi has become a ghost city over night. The large crowds and traffic congestion are no longer seen on the city's main roads. The local residents are only allowed to leave home to purchase basic necessities, and they have to wear masks and disinfect their hands in the process. Kolkata Airport and the train stations have been evacuated. The police have been patrolling all across the country to enforce the lockdown. In the northern province of Punjab, the police were seen scolding and dishing out corporal punishment on those who violate the policy.

Stand there. Cover your face first. Why? Why? Will you come out again to violate the safety of this city? No sir. Apologise. Sorry sir.

These are senseless people. They have no brains. The world is facing a calamity. We are taking precautions. Stores that sells life necessities, as well as drug stores, are still open to the public. All incoming customers are required to wear masks and to keep at least one-meter distance from each other. In order to prevent a full-blown outburst, most in the country's middle class said they are willing to fall in line with the lockdown. But they've also expressed hope for the government to help those in lower socioeconomic classes.

Like me, we will get by and earn a living. But others who are poor and are dependent on their daily wage for their daily bread, how will they get by?

People would realize what is a "black swan", what is the unpredictable things that happen to their lives. Maybe something good will come out (of this), not economically.

Ordering 1.3 billion people to stay home for 21 days is the largest-scale lockdown measure that a country has taken so far. The residents in India are ordered to not leave their places unless they need to purchase food, medicine, milk formula and other life necessities. The lockdown order prompted a shopping spree before it took effect. The government of India said they will ensure the supply of all commodities, and that the transportation network will continue as usual. The government has worked with local e-commerce companies to help deliver basic necessities directly to the residents' homes in order to minimize the need for people to go out.



印度首都新德里，一夕變成空城，16線道大馬路車流不見了，民眾上街只能購買最基本的民生必需品，還要戴上口罩，隨時消毒洗手．加爾各答機場車站淨空，全國各地都可看見警力在街頭盤查控管，北部旁遮普省，警察痛罵違法逛大街的民眾，甚至當街體罰。

警察斥責違規民眾：「(你先退後，把臉遮好。為什麼？為什麼這樣？你們還會出來危害城市安全嗎？) 不會了，先生。(給我道歉。) 對不起，先生。」

警察 辛格表示：「這些人無知，沒有頭腦。世界面臨災難，我們正採取預防措施。」

藥房等基本物資商店依舊開張營業，但貼著告示要求顧客戴上口罩，保持一公尺安全距離。為防止全國疫情大爆發，多數中產階級樂意配合政策，但也希望政府多照顧衝擊最大的底層人民。

藥劑師 達斯表示：「我們照樣過日子謀生，但其他人，那些窮人，他們每天靠日薪填飽肚子，他們要如何生活？」

會計師 阿嘉瓦爾表示：「人們會意識到黑天鵝是什麼？生活中會發生什麼不可預測的事情？或許會得到經濟層面以外的受益。」

13億人口要閉門居家三個禮拜21天，是當前全球最大規模的封鎖，民眾非必要不得出門，只能在附近採買糧食，藥品，奶粉等民生必需品，封鎖令生效前，曾經掀起一波囤積搶購潮，印度當局保證貨品供應充足，運輸不受阻礙，目前正協調電子商務業者，把基本物資配送上門，最大程度減少人群流動與接觸。