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The story so far: Koyambedu, Chennai’s popular wholesale market, is now the epicenter of the largest group of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Tamil Nadu. Keeping the large expanding market open in the midst of an epidemic, with little or no precautionary measures, has been costly for the state. The group’s cases began to emerge during the last week of April. The infection has now spread everywhere, quietly spreading to the least affected districts of the state as market workers returned to their home cities. As of May 8, 2020, 1,589 cases of the State’s total COVID-19 count of 6,009 are linked to this market.
Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India The | Statewide tracker for coronavirus cases, deaths, and test rates
What made Koyambedu’s bustling market a hotspot?
Overcrowding and congestion are nothing new on the Koyambedu wholesale market. The scenario was no different after the first phase of the blockade. The influx of people to the market only grew when the state government announced a blockade or imposed restrictions on their working hours as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, in contrast to the objective of government authorities. From the first day of closing in March, the market received a steady stream of visitors: retailers depending on supply facilities and individual customers. Despite the closure being in place, the market witnessed a rush the day before Tamil New Year which falls on April 14 for purchases. Thereafter, the same situation persisted when people resorted to panic buying. Various government agencies took steps to control crowds visiting the market to prevent the spread of disease. In late April, the Koyambedu market, with little regard for physical distancing, became the largest access point for COVID-19, with several districts in the state witnessing a spill of cases. The market has been closed since May 5, but the group continues to cause an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Why is Koyambedu’s wholesale market different from any other urban market in the country?
Conceived to decongest the central parts of the city, the Koyambedu wholesale market complex was established in what was then a peripheral area to put the city’s wholesale and retail perishable goods trade under one roof; there were facilities for truck terminals. Much of the trade in what was the city’s traditional wholesale fruit and vegetable market, in Kothawal Chavadi, moved to Koyambedu. An area of 295 acres was allocated and allocated to establish the market complex. Established in 1996, the Koyambedu Market Complex is one of Asia’s largest hubs for perishables. Spread over 65 acres, the wholesale fruit, flower and vegetable market receives a staggering number of visitors every day, one lakh. During the festive season, this number can go up to two lakh visitors. On average, the market receives 400 trucks of vegetables every day alone. In addition to individual customers within a 10 km radius visiting the market for its variety and affordable rates, retailers within a minimum radius of 100 km, including Arakkonam, Gummidipoondi and Villupuram, use the market to pick up fresh produce. It now also houses a wholesale market for food grains. The sheer size of businesses and the wide variety of products available and the bustling market in a confined space make Koyambedu different from other markets.
Also read | Without physical distance in the Koyambedu market, the influx of public makes detection difficult
How did the large-scale spread occur?
The Koyambedu market has almost 3,750 licensed stores that sell fruits, flowers, and vegetables, wholesale and retail. The market begins to receive new arrivals from the southern states and beyond, including Maharashtra, starting at 10 p.m. and sales continue until the next day. The nature of the market is such that people and vehicles from various parts of the state and from all over the country visit the market at different times of the day. There are around 10,000 workers in the market. During the shutdown, physical distancing regulations were affected when people attempted to purchase products during restricted hours. Although steps were taken to close sections of the market in phases and to restrict crowds during the closing period, the damage was already done and the market became conducive to transmission.
When the retail market closed in late April, many workers who did not find enough work, shelter and food left the city to go to their home towns in the trucks that had arrived at the market. Until then, they had turned the market into their temporary homes, sleeping in vehicles and on platforms within the market. In the past week, the infection has spread to at least half of Tamil Nadu.
Also read | Despite the blockade, the roads were drowning with vehicles near the Koyambedu market
The World Health Organization defines case groups as countries / territories / areas experiencing cases, grouped by time, geographic location and / or by common exposures. This is valid for the Koyambedu group. When vendors started testing positive in Chennai, market workers, including shippers, became infected in many districts of the state, including Ariyalur, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpet, and Tiruvallur. While the government managed to track and test all the index cases, what marked the beginning of a challenging process was contact tracking. The group was different because of the massive crowds involved. In a normal situation, a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will have 20 to 30 contacts. But, public health officials noted, this was not the case with the Koyambedu group where some of those who tested positive had approximately 200 to 250 contacts.
Will the lessons learned from this pandemic help shape the future of urban markets?
Urban planning experts point out that markets where there are large-scale daily nature activities with large congregations need more attention. According to A. Srivathsan, professor at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, the Koyambedu market, with its tight spots and crowded stores, was denser than a shopping mall in the city. Instead of a large central unit, there is a need to establish multiple markets in the growing city on the periphery.
Also read | Nellore officials on alert as Koyambedu cases rise
Experts point out that market design needs to be decided after taking into account several factors including sanitation. It is necessary to think about more options for the supply and delivery of goods to reduce overcrowding in one place.
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