Thiruvananthapuram: The capital city of the state came to a partial standstill after three cases of COVID-19 were reported from Thiruvananthapuram. Moreover, an Italian tourist has been tested positive for the infection. Authorities are preparing his route map which includes travel to Kollam district.
The bustling city was more or less empty and resembled a hartal. Busy spots like Thampanoor and Kizhakkekota saw a handful of people passing by. The KSRTC buses did not have 10% of its usual number of passengers and many trains left Thampanoor empty.
The Collector had given out an advisory to shut down shopping malls, beaches, beauty parlours, etc. The main reason was to prevent the spread of the virus especially when the route map of the Italian tourist has not been made. Though the shopping malls remained open, shoppers and visitors kept away from these places. People also avoided usually crowded areas of the city after the Collector’s advisory.
Even when the first COVID-19 cases were reported in other districts, Thiruvananthapuram was left untouched and people went about their business as usual. However, the report of three cases of infection and the Collector’s advisory soon affected normal life in the city.
The capital city is where thousands of people from other districts come for various needs. The high alert put out by health workers has resulted in the city coming to a partial standstill. There are reports that the Italian patient travelled to many areas in the city and also visited a temple festival in Kollam district.
Meanwhile, a person from Haryana who was under observation at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College isolation ward, escaped unnoticed. He had come to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College from Germany this afternoon.
The hospital authorities informed the police and a search has begun to trace his whereabouts.
