People line up to buy groceries, doctors encourage 'stay at home'

New Delhi: In the wake of Coronavirus threat, doctors in hospitals have sent out a public message urging people to "stay at home". As new cases of Coronavirus are reported almost every day, a lockdown situation may be the next move, which is why people have been standing in queues stocking up groceries.

Anand, a resident of Dwarka seemed anxious as he picked up vegetables and other essentials. "It is almost a lockdown like situation, better to stock up everything. Might be days or weeks," he said outside a local grocery shop.

In some areas, long queues could be seen outside

the milk shop as people try to buy the essential. Standing at the end of the line, Sunil said, "There seems to be

a panic like situation. In my 56 years, I haven't witnessed

this level of panic. And it is scary."

While restaurants and retail stores have seen a decrease in footfall, grocery shop owners say customers have

increased in the past two days. "All eating essentials are being taken away. Besides that daily household items are on the rise," said a local grocery shop owner.

On the other hand, explaining the importance of quarantine, doctors are encouraging people to stay at home. "I stayed at work for you, you stay at home for us," Dr. Amarinder Singh from AIIMS wrote on a paper and shared the picture on social media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too applauded the move.

On Thursday, fourth death due to Coronavirus was reported from Punjab. According to the Union Health Ministry, about 173 cases have been tested positive for Coronavirus all over the country. Out these, 25 are foreign nationals, including 17 from Italy.