Thursday marks two years since India went into a hard lockdown to slow the rate of Covid-19 infections.
For many Indians, March 24, 2020, marks the start of the day when a global pandemic entered their lives for the first time. The two years since are likely to go down as one of the toughest periods in the lives of many, one that brought about lifestyle changes including some that may end up being permanent.
After two years, jostling crowds are again a familiar sight. "Mentally, I feel free of the pressure to always wear a mask or keep a sanitizer in my hand. That constant worry that I should not touch anyone or change clothes when I return home has gone"
Roads are crammed, public transport is crowded, markets are lively, schools have reopened, and restaurants are packed.
It is bringing a wave of hope to millions who were badly hit when India imposed the world’s strictest lockdown in March 2020, prompting an exodus of millions of migrant workers to their village homes.
For many Indians, March 24, 2020, marks the start of the day when a global pandemic entered their lives for the first time. The two years since are likely to go down as one of the toughest periods in the lives of many, one that brought about lifestyle changes including some that may end up being permanent.
After two years, jostling crowds are again a familiar sight. "Mentally, I feel free of the pressure to always wear a mask or keep a sanitizer in my hand. That constant worry that I should not touch anyone or change clothes when I return home has gone"
Roads are crammed, public transport is crowded, markets are lively, schools have reopened, and restaurants are packed.
It is bringing a wave of hope to millions who were badly hit when India imposed the world’s strictest lockdown in March 2020, prompting an exodus of millions of migrant workers to their village homes.
