Residents flouted norms as Administration looked the other way

Did careless attitude of resdients lead to spike in covid cases in tricity?

Increase fine for not wearing mask

When guidelines fail to achieve the desired results imposing restrictions on the public becomes necessary. People are defying Covid-19 protocol and exposing themselves and others to virus. So, the fine for not wearing mask must be increased from Rs500 to Rs2,000 in the tricity. The government must ensure social distancing, use of hand sanitiser and aggressive testing to identify infected persons. The government and the public share joint responsibility to prevent the pandemic from spreading further by following all norms.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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People have no fear of fine

People do not wear masks properly or maintain social distance at public places as they have no fear of the fine. The respective Administration in the tricity should start imposing fine on violators regularly. Simply increasing the fine amount on paper will not help.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

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Disregard for law, public health

The blatant disregard for the law as well as public health was visible on Diwali across the tricity. Festivities and large congregations are superspreaders of the Covid-19 pandemic. The UT Administration took the right step by ordering a complete ban on the sale and use of firecrackers. The tricity has a large population of senior citizens, who are vulnerable to Covid-19 infection. Hence, with pollution in the air they are susceptible to health problems. These are critical and unprecedented times. As the Covid-19 threat persists abundant caution should be exercised by all in the tricity.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

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Enjoy but take care of health

People are responsible for whatever has happened during festive season in the tricity. Despite Covid-19 threat everybody thronged markets and the worst part was without wearing masks. The problem is definitely with our attitude. If you can’t do any good then don’t become a virus spreader. Please wear masks. Take care of elderly. Everyone has the right to enjoy during festivals, but not at the cost of somebody’s health. Follow precautions till an effective vaccine is available for everyone, which is likely in the next few months. So, keep patience.

Dr Tarandeep Singh, Chandigarh

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Residents are taking pandemic lightly

There is no denying the fact that the careless attitude of people in wearing masks and following social distancing norms in festive season lead to a surge in coronavirus in the tricity. People have started taking the Covid-19 pandemic lightly. Moreover, they hide infection. With relaxation in the lockdown, it is clear that the government cannot protect people from the Covid-19 infection. Violating norms is not the solution. It is the time when both the people and the government should awaken and prevent the spread of the virus.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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Rush in bazaars is disastrous for all

One can agree that callousness on the part of the general public has spiked Covid-19 cases in the tricity. The general public should always wear masks, wash hands regularly and maintain social distance. The often seen rush in bazaars is disastrous for all of us. We seem to have forgotten the old dictum “Prevention is better than cure”. Unfortunately, the vaccine for the dreaded virus is yet to come. So, it’s best to take all preventive steps and enjoy good health. Prevention costs nothing.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Violators must be dealt with strictly

Tricity residents must not lower guard against the virus. They must realise the severity of the pandemic. Marriages, religious and other functions are important, but not at the cost of our lives. The law enforcing agencies, especially the police must get stricter with those, who do not take precautionary measures such as wearing mask or maintain physical distance. People turned a deaf towards repeated requests of the government to follow Covid prevention norms during the festival season. Battle against virus cannot be won without the support of residents in the tricity. Kindly adhere to Covid-19 norms to safeguard not only your life, but also of others, who come in contact with you.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

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Guidelines thrown to the winds

Festival season was not different from previous year. Wearing face mask and maintaining social distance is the only alternative to avoid the spread of coronavirus, but tricity resident mingled in crowds while shopping and visiting religious places and threw the norms to the winds. A ban on bursting of firecrackers in Chandigarh only did its bit in keeping the air pollution under control. It was not enough to prevent the spreading of virus. Let us hope and pray that the authorities concentrate on densely populated areas of the tricity to enforce Covid-19 guidelines more rigidly and the situation does not go out of control.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Shun gatherings, complacency

The Covid-19 menace plateaued after half-a-year of wide awareness and self and forced preventions and precautions. By and by people’s casual approach and taking undue advantage of relaxations during festival celebrations did result in spurt of the Covid-19 cases at an alarming proportion. Coronavirus is not leaving us anytime soon. To accomplish ‘jaan bhi, jahaan bhi’ target the habit of following new normal is the sine qua non. We have to shun large gatherings and complacency. Precaution is the only vaccine available so far. The country’s economy, lives of the people and their livelihood cannot afford fresh lockdown. Lest we forget to our detriment, carelessness on our part will have dire consequences. Vote bank politics must not weigh on the administrations of the tricity to allow suicidal misadventures and liberties by the public under the guise of their rights. Upon the conduct of each one, depends the fate of all.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

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Healthy life more important

People do not wear masks. They have accepted Covid-19 as a part of their lives, become fearless and enjoy as usual. Their laxity is contributing to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the tricity. Many people, who recovered from the disease, are complaining of other health issues. Tricity residents must understand that nothing is more important than a healthy life and take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Step out of home only if necessary.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Law enforcement agencies’ failure

Yes, the careless attitude of residents led to spike in Covid-19 cases in the tricity. The Chandigarh Administration had banned the sale and bursting of firecrackers during Diwali, but the people totally ignored the order. Even the Punjab Government permitted bursting of only green firecrackers for two hours, but the people flouted this order too. The rise in Covid cases after Diwali is the direct outcome of pollution generated by residents in the tricity. How can residents play with their own lives? No strict action by enforcement agencies encouraged residents to ignore the ban.

Wg Cdr Jasbir singh Minhas (retd.), Mohali

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Impose hefty penalty on violators

It was distressing to see people not following guidelines to control the Covid-19 epidemic during the festival season. Public is requested to sincerely follow the norms to contain the spread of the virus. We must follow the thumb rule to sanitise hands, keep social distance and always wear a mask when going out. This is the only way to control the pandemic as there is no medicine available to cure this disease. Violators should be fined to deter others from flouting the prevention guidelines.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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Residents are to be blamed

Covid-19 cases increased during the festive season in the tricity. Residents thronged markets and took no preventive measures like wear mask, maintain social distance and sanitation. Residents are to be blamed for the negligent attitude, which led to rise in coronavirus cases in the tricity.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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No control on rush

People are openly moving without masks in the tricity. Covid-19 cases surged as people thronged markets during the festival season without taking precautions. Neither traders nor the Administration could control rush in markets. Prevention is better than cure.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Residents, Admn equally responsible

The UT Administration was well aware that Covid-19 cases could rise due to the festival season. The Administration, therefore, was supposed to be proactive in strictly implementing the prevention guidelines. Apparently, the Administration didn’t come forward wholeheartedly to nab violators. Residents, on the other hand, were complacent with the diminishing positivity rate of Covid-19 cases. Instead of being more cautious during the festival celebrations residents ventured out to toss the safety norms. As such, both the Administration and residents are to be equally blamed for the spike in Covid-19 cases.

Hardeep Singh Slaich, Mohali

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People didn’t act responsibly

Careless attitude of people towards wearing masks and following social distancing norm led to surge in coronavirus cases in the tricity. People did not act responsibly. Also, bursting of firecrackers on Diwali increased pollution, which spiked coronavirus cases. People gathered in markets during the festival season flouting the safety norms and contracted the disease.

Akshar Kumar Singla, Punjab

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Check complacent attitude of populace

Celebrations during the festive season without taking requisite precautions brought back virus into our lives. To quell another spike of the virus, non-conformist, lackadaisical and complacent attitude of the populace must be checked. Masks meant to cover nose are down on chins. The laxity needs to be stopped. Those without mask or with mask on their chins must be fined heavily. Unnecessary trips to nearby hill stations, markets, tourist spots and socialising must be curtailed. As there isn’t any cure for this virus the adage, “Precaution is better than cure”, must be kept in mind.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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Admn alone cannot control the virus

The careless attitude of residents during the festival season attributed to spike in Covid-19 cases in the tricity. We are taking pandemic casually. The problem is how to deal with the people, who don’t follow safety protocol? It’s duty of the general public to take all precautions. Mask is a vaccine till a real vaccine arrives. ‘Do gaj ki duri mask hai jaruri’ is right. Unless residents accept their responsibility it’s difficult for the administrations in the tricity to control the virus.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Residents of tricity at fault

Residents and respective Administrations of the tricity are equally responsible for the spike in Covid-19 cases. The Administration (s) allotted stalls leaving no scope for social distancing or wearing masks by vendors or residents thronging markets. Mostly residents ignored precautions, which could be the cause of the spike. The Administration (s) should now act swiftly and ensure that residents follow all safety norms to prevent the spread of the virus in the tricity.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

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All caution thrown to the winds

Newspaper reports and social media posts exposed the careless behaviour of residents in the tricity. Markets were jam-packed with shoppers throwing all guard against the Covid-19 pandemic to the winds. There were no masks on their faces and they forgot about social distancing in public places. It is because of their irresponsible behaviour that the tricity witnessed spurt in Covid-19 infections. People may be fed up with the virus, but it is not fed up with us. Let’s consider it as our duty to bolster the hands of the government in the fight against the deadly virus.

Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Callous attitude added fuel to fire

Tireless efforts of health workers and relentless services of doctors as well as advisories of the government all went for a toss as tricity residents not only flouted ban on firecrackers, but also violated the Covid 19 guidelines during the festive season. Even law and order enforcing agencies seemed helpless as residents continued to bursting firecrackers on Diwali. Besides, people thronged markets in the tricity. Callous attitude of residents definitely added fuel in the fire.

Gopal Mittal, Panchkula

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Tricity residents are irresponsible

Residents of the tricity are indifferent towards the Covid prevention instructions of the authorities concerned. Many people do not wear masks and violate social distancing norms. Markets are full of people and safety norms are thrown to the winds. Traders also did not cooperate with the authorities and allowed more people inside their shops than permitted during the festive season. All should unite to fight the pandemic.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Administration’s lax attitude to blame

There is no denying that tricity residents, especially the younger lot, flagrantly indulged in jumping the mandatory safety protocols, which led to a spike in Covid-19 cases. While the Administration cannot absolve itself of the onus of having failed to crack a whip on habitual violators, the blatant carelessness on the part of footloose residents during the festive season led to the unprecedented spurt in the Covid cases in the tricity, Chandigarh in particular. What dispensation needs to tell residents in no unequivocal terms that if they failed to follow the prescribed norms they should be ready for disastrous outcomes in the second coronavirus wave looming large over the country. The one and only formula that could save us and others from falling prey to the virus is to adhere to the statutory norms.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Make people aware of covid guidelines

In the tricity, there has been a steady increase in Covid-19 cases, which shows residents flouted Covid norms during the festive season. The fine for not wearing mask does not matter. There is a need to bring awareness among residents through media and NGOs/RWAs about following Covid guidelines. The Administration should conduct regular checking at public places to make sure that people wear masks.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

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Social distancing should be a habit

There is surge in Covid cases in Chandigarh as people did not take precautions during the festive season. Social distancing should now become a habit. Masks should be worn properly. Use santisers at public places and wash hands properly washed when back at home.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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