It is that time of the year when children throng shops ahead of another innings at school. With barely a week left for schools to reopen, shops across the State may be feeling the rush, but not in Kozhikode.
With Nipah virus scare hanging in the air, even the ever-busy S.M. Street, the most popular shopping destination in the district, has been wearing a deserted look for the last few days. As for the malls, except for a few lone shoppers, they are as good as shut down.
The situation is quite grave at the Government Medical College Hospital where Nipah-infected persons are kept under observation. The outpatient wing, which is usually crowded, witnessed a very low turnout on Wednesday, while the number of visitors at the inpatient wing too has come down drastically. The situation is not much different in other hospitals in the city.
Fruit stalls and juice shops too are largely deserted, though it is Ramzan season. A circular from the Kozhikode Corporation health wing to fruit stalls and eateries demanding a high level of precaution is an influencing factor. The city, which used to have an active night life during Ramzan, is largely shut down by 9 p.m.
Moreover, restrictions on training programmes and summer camps imposed by the district administration in Nipah-affected regions have hit the city as well. Several examination coaching centres have declared holiday for a week. Schools have dropped vacation classes too. Face masks are much in demand at medical stores. The number of people using public transportation and attendance in offices too have been affected.
It may take at least a week for the fear to die down and the situation to turn normal in the city.
