Shun complacency, don’t lower guard till virus subsides

Wear face mask, maintain social distance, avoid large gatherings, step up vaccination drive & remove misgivings about the vaccine

Time to go in combat mode

A stitch in time saves nine. The UT Administration must enforce all preventive norms rather sternly to prevent the second Covid wave. Apparently, fed up people have started moving around without wearing face masks. The law enforcing agencies must keep track of these violations. Management of businesses and other establishments have become lax and should be fined for violations of Covid protocols on their premises. Every section of society irrespective of the age group must be vaccinated. Also misgivings about safety and efficacy of the Covid vaccines should be removed via campaigns.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

Many believe Covid virus has subsided

The public as well as the health authorities have turned lax over a period of time due to reduction in Covid cases. They believe that Covid virus has virtually died down. But, they forget that it could resurface any time. The UT Administration should ensure that all people wear masks, observe social distancing and maintain cleanliness till the year end. Defaulters should be fined and dealt with iron hand regularly.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

QUESTION

Repeated fire incidents at the waste dumping ground in Dadu Majra have made lives of the local residents miserable. Thick smoke that remains in the air for a few days after any fire incident affects the health of people. What steps should the Municipal Corporation take to prevent such incidents at the dumping ground?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]

Penalise people not wearing mask

Pre-emptive measures to prevent a second surge of Covid are necessary as many people in Chandigarh are seen roaming without face mask in markets and parks. The UT Administration should not take it lightly. Such persons should be fined.

AK Sharma, Chandigarh

Enforce preventive norms strictly

The UT Administration should take required precautions by stepping up testing, strict surveillance of all establishments and ensure containment in Covid affected areas. The authorities must enforce wearing of face mask and social distancing norms strictly. The health ministry should ban medicines for Covid, not been certified by the WHO.

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Mohali

Why can’t people wear masks?

Cases of Covid-19 have increased manifold due to our casual approach with regard to the safety guidelines. See any social, political or religious gathering, people are without masks. They do not follow physical distancing at all. If some people wear face masks at such gatherings they too remove it out of shame. Forget about private sector, Covid-19 guidelines are not even followed in government offices. When the second wave seems to be on cards, we must not lower our guard. Time and again we are warned about it by the medical fraternity, but to no avail. There seems to be no harm in wearing face masks and following physical distancing, but I do not know why people are hesitant to do so. It is high time that we all must follow the Covid-19 norms in letter and spirit for our safety.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

Second wave will be more infectious

Reports about Covid surge are pouring in. Mind you, the second wave is going to be more infectious. So, the Chandigarh Administration must swing into action straightaway. People visiting from other states/foreign returnees should be allowed to enter city after proper screening. At this stage, it is important for the city residents to cooperate with the authorities. Moreover, UT residents must adhere to safety protocol like wearing face mask, maintaining social distance and sanitisation and avoiding large gatherings.

Moti Bhateja, Chandigarh

Ensure sanitisation of public places

Health officials should ensure complete sanitisation of public places and fix price of masks and sanitisers. It is necessary to paste stickers outside residence of individuals suspected to be suffering from cronavirus in order make public aware. Teaching staff of schools, colleges and universities must work from home. In case infected people are unable to visit hospital they must call the helpline number 112 and dedicated team must go and check on them at their residence.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

Still need to be on high alert

It’s really worrisome situation to see the increasing trend in Covid-19 positive cases. We still need to be on high alert as far as spread of the pandemic is concerned. With opening of almost all economic activities across the country, the public may have gone little carefree resulting in reverse situation, which otherwise was improving. Although we are better placed in recovery as well as vaccination in comparison to most advanced countries, yet there is no need to lower vigil. Genetic mutation of the coronavirus is a new worry. We need to be extra cautious. Wearing mask and maintaining social distance is still need of the hour. Total discipline on following Covid-19 guidelines is expected from the public. The UT Administration need to be more aggressive in Covid testing and tracing suspected patients along with pushing the vaccination drive so as to ensure that maximum citizens are inoculated in the shortest span of time.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Precaution is better than cure

The second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has come as a big surprise. We residents are not following the laid down guidelines issued on the subject matter. We are not taking basic precautions like maintaining social distance, wearing masks and sanitising hands and have taken up causal approach on this issue. We are not serious and hesitant to take Covid jab as per the laid down norms. The authorities should be strict on this issue and follow the norms for maintaining health of the people in general. Covid-19 vaccine should be made compulsory for every citizen like polio drops. At the same time the authorities must educate people that Covid-19 vaccine is safe and has no side effects.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

People must restrict their movement

Residents can prevent the spread of the pandemic by taking preventive steps like wearing masks and maintaining social distance. We are taking coronavirus casually. People must restrict their movement and avoid social gatherings.

Sukhpal Singh, Chandigarh

Take timely and stringent measures

To prevent the second wave of Covid pandemic, the UT Administration should take timely and stringent measures. Anybody coming from outside should be screened for the disease and quarantined. Screening teams should be stationed at railway station, airport and bus stands in such manner that nobody goes unexamined. Gathering at marriages, functions and rallies should be banned. Masks should be mandatory at public places. Business establishments should adhere to social distancing. Night curfew should be imposed for few more days.

Bubby Soin, Chandigarh

Compliance of norms can stem the virus

Reports of resurgence of Covid-19 cases should ring alarm bells warranting pre-emptive measures, which cannot be left unregulated for voluntary compliance only. Individuals are themselves to blame for hard curbs on gatherings and movement culminating into partial or complete lockdowns. The virus is not leaving us anytime. Universal vaccination will remain a work-in-progress for years’ altogether. Only foolproof compliance of frequent sanitisation, wearing face mask and social distancing can stem the spread. Upon the conduct of each one depend lives and livelihoods of all. Prevention and precaution are the best vaccination. We cannot afford to lower the guard lest the consequences should be unfathomable.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Lax attitude has led to spread of virus

Life was gradually limping back to normal. But sudden surge in Covid cases must ensure that the UT takes pre-emotive measures to prevent its spread. The main reason behind the surge is lax attitude of people. People have thrown safety norms to the wind. One should not lower his/her safety guard. It’s time to take strict action against those violating safety norms. People should avoid unnecessary moment.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Timely alertness is necessary

To prevent the second surge of covid cases, the UT Administration needs to be alert. Testing and vaccination should be increased. Rapid Covid testing of people coming from other states is required at city borders. Moreover, precautions like reducing gatherings at functions, wearing face masks along with maintaining social distance should be priority. Most people do not wear face masks because there is no check. The UT Administration should deploy special teams for checking violations of norms and defaulters should be penalised.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

Implement health advisories

Covid cases have been increasing from last few days. Not adhering to the guidelines issued by the health authorities has once again led to spread of virus. There is a need to reissue instructions for taking precautionary measures and check violators for stopping the second Covid wave in the city and the area around it.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali

Ensure that all people wear mask

The UT Administration should ensure that all people wear mask, regularly intake immunity booster syrups, practice social distancing and older people do not travel unnecessary. Offline classes should be strictly prohibited in educational institutions. The proverb “Prevention is better than cure” should be followed. Strict punishment should be given to those, who violate Covid norms.

Adish Sood, Amloh

Check unnecessary movement of people

To prevent the second spike in the city the UT Administration should make Covid test report mandatory to enter Chandigarh. The unnecessary movement of people to and from the city must be regulated. The Health Department should increase testing, gatherings must be restricted, standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be followed in public places, micro-containment strategy should be deployed in hotspots, senior citizens must be vaccinated and vaccination drive should be encouraged.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

Be prepared with medical facilities

Epidemics of infectious diseases can be unpredictable. They often come in waves. History has left hard lessons showing that a virus can quickly return and with deadlier force. Now, the UT Administration has reopened from a severe lockdown. Coronavirus infection rate is rising again with increased interaction and movement of the people. The infection risk is high as people are reluctant to get vaccinated leaving large swathes of population susceptible to the virus. Hence, the UT Administration should be ready with adequate medical facilities to take care of the infected persons.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh.

Provide sanitisers, masks in markets

Cases of coronavirus are increasing in Chandigarh. The Administration should focus on this issue so that lockdown is not re-imposed in the city. Otherwise, it will be setback for the business as well as service class. The authorities should provide sanitisers and face masks at public places.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Lockdown not in favour of masses

The UT should definitely take proactive measures due to surge in Covid cases. The Administration needs to get strict in following protocols and impose fines and even imprisonment in case of violation of the safety norms. Education can go online. There should be limit on the number of people in events and gatherings. Imposing lockdown or curfew is not in favour of the masses as they have already suffered financial losses in the wake of the pandemic. Rather, the Administration should spread awareness and encourage masses to get vaccinated as fear of side effects lurks in minds of the people.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Admn has to be more vigilant

We are witnessing increase in Covid-19 cases in Chandigarh and adjoining states especially in Punjab. The UT Administration has to be more vigilant and impose some restrictions in the city to control the impending health scare. Testing should be increased in the affected areas with the appropriate split of RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests and to also ensure that all symptomatic negatives of antigen tests are compulsorily tested via RT-PCR tests. The positive persons have to be isolated/hospitalised. All their close contacts be traced and tested without delay. The Administration has to carry out critical review of the emerging situation on a regular basis with officials concerned and ensure that gains in Covid-19 management are not lost.

Dr. Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

People have casual approach

To check the spread of Covid-19 protocols have to be enforced strictly. People are becoming casual towards the pandemic. One can see many people not wearing face masks. There are not many checks on visitors at shops, malls and hospitals. We have to tighten our belts to face the dreaded virus.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

Double the fine for flouting norms

The Chandigarh Administration should double the fine for flouting Covid norms like not wearing face mask or maintaining social distance. Hotels, restaurants and marriage places in the city should close their business at 9.30 pm. Night curfew be imposed in the city from 10 pm to 5 am. There should be regular testing of potential super spreaders. PPE equipment including gowns, face shields and N-95 masks have to be provided to the people for free. Central guidelines for testing and treatment protocols have to be followed all the time.

Dr Manjinder Kaur, Manali

Act tough against violators

Apparently, the surge in Covid-19 cases once again is due to complacency of residents about decreasing intensity of the pandemic. They are ignoring face masks, social distancing and other precautionary measures. Also, the Administration does not seem to be so strict with violators of the safety norms. In the given situation, the civil and police administration must ensure that safety norms are followed in letter and spirit and violators are penalised as per the law.

Hardeep Singh Slaich, Mohali

Ramp up testing of residents

With relaxation in working hours there is a spike in Covid cases. Precautions like social distancing, wearing face mask and sanitising hands regularly can protect many lives. The UT Administration should deploy healthcare workers to guide people, ramp up Covid testing and isolate infected persons to suppress transmission of the virus.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

Prepare for ANY unforeseen situation

With second wave seeming imminent, the Chandigarh Administration needs to buckle up and be fully prepared to handle any unforeseen situation. The reason behind increase in Covid cases is the carefree attitude of the people towards pandemic. They are complacent at public places. The Administration must increase testing, start contact tracing, limit gatherings and set up vigilance teams to ensure that appropriate precautions are taken to check the spread of the coronavirus.

Mehak Taneja, Chandigarh