Coronavirus lockdown: Social distancing norms defied after liquor shops reopen with long queues

Liquor shops witnessed long queues in several states across India after the decision to reopen them was authorized by the Ministry of Home Affairs last week as the first of the many measures for a gradual lockdown exit that don't fall under containment areas. The nationwide lockdown, which was announced to be enforced from March 25 to April 14 before it was extended till May 3, lasted a total of forty days, in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. With the shutdown extended for another two weeks, numerous standalone liquor outlets that don't come under the containment areas had reopened on Monday in various parts of the country with visuals and pictures from the locations now doing the rounds on social networking forums.

Although some locations had policemen and law-enforcing authorities maintaining vigil over the social distancing conduct by the people at the liquor outlets, a majority of the long queues that were seen were indicative of people ignoring the norms completely in a scramble to get alcohol for which many have waited for well over a month due to the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown. The government's social distancing norms have clearly mandated that a minimum six-feet distance needs to be maintained at liquor shops while no more than five people will be permitted inside a shop at a time.

Check out some more of the viral trending pictures of the social distancing norms being flouted by people after liquor shops reopened across the nation post lockdown:

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