Joint efforts can help mitigate Covid

What steps can be taken to prevent spread of virus?

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Implement social distancing properly

The decision of the government to impose curfew in the state at a time when there were only a few Covid-19 cases is laudable. But it is unfortunate that some people continue to defy the curfew orders by unnecessarily commuting on roads. Moreover, they are defeating the social distancing concept by gathering in groups near milk and vegetable delivery vehicles, casually touching packets of essential items while deciding which one to buy, visiting their neighbours and relatives and nearby parks for yoga and exercise. Children in neighbourhood continue to play with each other and people continue to spread rumours on social media. The authorities must implement the curfew and social distancing stringency at the grassroots level. The importance of social distancing can be highlighted by the fact that one person was responsible for 70 per cent of the coronavirus cases in the state. We can win this pandemic war and save lives by isolating ourselves and taking social distancing and curfew seriously.

Simran Sidhu

Ensure people don’t face hardships

Throughout the country, hospitals and medical staff are working round the clock to check the spread of Covid-19. The state is no exception. The Chief Minister is personally supervising the relief operations. The district administration is geared up to tackle the situation. The authorities claim to have made adequate arrangements for providing essential items such as milk, curd, cheese, vegetables, fruits, dry ration and medicines on the doorsteps of residents. NGOs and religious bodies are extending a helping hand to the government in this time of crisis. But the daily wagers and people living the below poverty line are the worst-hit. The state government has announced financial help for the registered labourers and workers, but nothing has been announced for the benefit of casual, unregistered and unorganised labourers. These people also need immediate help. General public is facing a lot of difficulties in getting essential items. The situation is even worse in villages and small towns around Bathinda. Necessary steps must be taken immediately to ensure that the people stranded inside their houses due to curfew do not face any hardship. The government machinery and general public must cooperate with each other during this crucial period. Most importantly, the administration must ensure that people are not exploited and fleeced by shopkeepers by creating artificial scarcity of essential items. The government must handle hoarders strictly.

Pursharth Joshi

Keep close tab on violators of curfew

‘Either we swim together or we sink together’. Keeping this philosophy on mind, each one of us should contribute our bit towards fighting the coronavirus by just staying at home. We, as individuals, should understand the intensity and direness of this situation we are in. The government and the district administration are doing good to contain the spread of the disease, but that is not enough. We should have been able to contain the spread at stage 2 by imposing strict lockdown or even curfew. But now as we have already moved to stage 3 and statistics have been increasing, following exactly the pattern of other affected countries like Italy and Spain, we can foresee an unwanted and irreversible situation in the future. Hence, stop when we still can. The government should keep a close eye on violators followed by a severe punishment. It should also focus more on neutralising panic created by fake news and rumours. Besides, society should act wisely and by no means should take it lightly. People should avoid going out in the name of buying essentials. #Stay Home #Stay Safe.

Amit Kesarwani

Need to follow govt advisory strictly

The Centre, state government, district administration and NGOs are making efforts on a war footing to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Unfortunately, the world is yet to find a vaccine for its treatment. We should keep on mind that unusual times need unusual efforts. In this hapless situation, the cooperation of people with the administration and the health authorities is a must. Residents should follow the government advisory on this. Moreover, who have been asked to isolate themselves, they must remain indoors. They must keep some distance from other family members as well. Though the curfew imposed by the state government as a precautionary measure is causing some inconvenience to people, people must extend their full support to the government, especially the Health Department, in its efforts to check the spread of Covid. The district administration needs to ensure that public awareness campaigns, as claimed by it, are carried out at the grassroots level. These should not remain on papers only. In nutshell, joint efforts of public, administration and health authorities can help mitigate the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

Prof NK Gosain

QUESTION

In the past few days, several videos have gone viral on social media in which police personnel were seen beating up curfew violators. What should the police do to keep people indoors during the curfew imposed to contain the Covid-19 spread?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to btitribune@gmail.com or post it to Bathinda Tribune, SCF-117, Opposite Harchand Cinema, Goniana Road, Bathinda, by April 5.