Coronavirus pandemic | Maharashtra hamlet becomes world’s first isle to self-isolate

To ensure its sanctity and save the population from the grasp of the pandemic, all guided tours were cancelled by the village sarpanch on March 24

Moneycontrol News

March 26, 2020 / 09:28 PM IST

Representational Image (Wikimedia)

Amid reports of people refusing to abide by the coronavirus-induced lockdown, a small hamlet in Maharashtra has set quite the right precedent by going into self-isolation. They made the move right after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown on March 24.

Located in the outskirts of Mumbai, the village went into self-isolation as a preventive measure, to make sure its small population doesn’t get infected by the deadly and highly contagious novel coronavirus.

The hamlet named Panju is located in Thane district’s Vasai and has a population of 1,400 persons approximately. The mainstay of most locals is farming since the village is covered in lush greens. It is popular among travel enthusiasts for the abundance of greens and picturesque landscape.

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However, to ensure its sanctity and save the population from the grasp of the pandemic, all guided tours were cancelled by the village sarpanch; tourists were not allowed to enter. According to an India Today report, boat services from Naigaon city to the village has also been suspended until March 31.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Frequently Asked Questions

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A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine.

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