Vaccination, not weekend lockdown, the way forward

Will the weekend lockdown help curb the rising coronavirus cases in the UT?

Youngsters loiter during weekends

It is a cause of concern that Covid cases are on the rise in our City Beautiful. Chandigarh is considered as one of the best cities to live and is much clean and well maintained than many other cities. It has been observed that people get infected even after taking two doses of the vaccination. Many residents especially youngsters loiter during weekends. The weekend curfew will contain the spread of the virus. All necessary steps be taken to curb the second wave of the pandemic. Essential services can be permitted during the weekend curfew. Strict action be taken against those, who violate curfew and Covid prevention guidelines.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Weekend restrictions no solution

If the public is allowed to violate Covid norms for five days then what is the purpose or benefit of imposing lockdown for two days in a week. Instead, the Administration must enforce Covid guidelines strictly and penalise violators on daily basis. This will have cascading effect on containing the spread of the virus. The Administration should prevent large gatherings. The miseries of the lockdown outweigh its benefits for the common man.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

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Can prevent the spread of the virus

The situation going from bad to worse in Chandigarh. The government is busy in election rallies. Weekend lockdown or night curfew will not curb the spread of the deadly virus. Only complete lockdown for two weeks is the need of the hour. Public can be seen in parks even during the weekend lockdown. Chandigarians are not taking the pandemic seriously.

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh

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Will do more harm than good to people

Hasty decision to impose weekend curfew or lockdown will cause more harm to the common people. Rather, public should be educated to follow Covid prevention guidelines strictly like keeping social distance, sanitising hands regularly and wearing face mask. People may be fined for not adhering to the safety norms. At the same time vaccination of all age groups by mobile teams on the doorstep should be compulsory.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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An exercise in futility

Clamping weekend curfew has created problems for daily wagers, petty shopkeepers, traders and senior citizens living alone and that too without any impact on problem at hand. In order to have some sort of check on galloping infection, the ongoing drive to track, test, treat and isolate must be ramped up in every nook and corner of the city. Simultaneously, the age limit of vaccine recipients must be lowered to cover maximum youngsters as they are more vulnerable to the deadly virus. All shopkeepers with delivery boys, domestic help of senior citizens, including personal drivers must be vaccinated on priority.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Break the virus transmission chain

The only and best way to tackle the coronavirus menace is to break its chain. The weekend lockdown with strict adherence to the Covid- 19 norms like wearing face mask and maintaining proper social distance is must. Lockdown will ensure less personal contact of people and prevent further transmission of the deadly infection. Election rallies and religious gathering must be suspended to break the transmission chain.

Amarjeet Kumar, Chandigarh

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Focus on awareness of safety measures

Determination is the key to success and success demands perseverance. The authorities in the tricity lack coordination. Lockdown or weekend curfew along with other restrictions is not the only solution to solve the pandemic problem. Businessmen, industrialists and migrant workers have already borne heavy mental, physical and financial losses last year. People should be educated about impending dangers if they do not follow the guidelines. The police should ensure that the public wear face masks and maintain social distancing.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Malls, eateries packed to their capacity

Rising Covid cases in the UT is a matter of concern for all. It is common for city residents to go out for shopping and eating/dining on the weekends. As a result, shopping malls and eateries in the city witness large crowds on the weekends. Besides, people in large numbers from the adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana come to Chandigarh on the weekend making the situation worse. In view of this, weekend lockdown can be a better option.

Hardeep Singh Slaich, Mohali

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Safety measures can help check pandemic

Lockdown by the Chandigarh Administration on the weekend may control the virus, but at the same time economy will fail. Instead of lockdown, the Administration should act tough against violators of safety guidelines through round-the-clock check and punish them. Why UT residents don’t understand the gravity of the dangerous situation created by the pandemic? They are putting their and others lives at risk. Lockdown/curfew is not the solution. Actually, it lies in hands of UT residents, who must follow safety protocol to eliminate coronavirus.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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Clamp curfew for 15 days

The second wave of coronavirus is more dangerous and spreading fast. Instead of weekend lockdown clamp curfew for 15 days to break the transmission chain of the virus. Also, the availability of vaccine, medicines and oxygen supply should reach the required level during this period. Strict implementation of lockdown norms would go a long way in restricting the spread of the contagion. Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh should consider the option of 15-day curfew to break the chain.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali

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Small businesses will be destroyed

Weekend lockdown is just one of the measures to control the pandemic. Doctors are of the view that in such a situation only full lockdown is an option to contain the virus. If people show laxity towards the Covid guidelines, then only strict measures will contain the virus. So, we must follow the lockdown norms properly to avoid curfew. If full lockdown is imposed, it will destroy many small businesses. Therefore, behave wisely and don’t make things worse for the authorities.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Less people will move around

The weekend lockdown will definitely contain the virus. In Chandigarh most people are working. They often go out for shopping and dining on weekends. Lockdown will curtail their movement on weekends.

Sukhwant Bhullar, Chandigarh

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Inoculate beneficiaries of all age groups

Weekend lockdown cannot curb the rising coronavirus cases in Chandigarh. Lockdown help partially as such measures cannot contain the spread of the virus. Vaccination drive must be ramped up to inoculate people of all age groups. Only complete lockdown will control huge wave of the coronavirus.

Adish Sood, Amloh

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Individuals can help combat virus

With increase in Covid cases in Chandigarh, weekend lockdown can be of help to some extent. Residents should realise the importance of following protocols and step out of their homes only if necessary. Offices need to work with 50 per cent capacity. Online education should continue for students of all institutions. Shopkeepers must take precautions while attending customers as laxity is seen on their part. The Administration should keep a check on violations of safety norms. Every individual’s contribution counts and can help combat the coronavirus.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Impose more restrictions

Chandigarh has witnessed a huge spike in Covid cases in the last fortnight. Although the Administration imposed weekend lockdown and night curfew, yet the infection is still on the rise. The UT Administration should impose more restrictions at public places like Sector 17 Plaza, markets of Sector 22, 35, hotels of Sector 26 and other place with big footfall. Step up vaccination drive. People should be encouraged to get vaccinated through posters and advertisements in newspapers.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

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Will not flatten covid curve in UT

No doubt lockdown and night curfew has been imposed to flatten the Covid curve in the UT, but it will not reduce positive cases. Actually, it won’t break the virus transmission chain, but might slow down the spread. Focus should be on vaccination and ensuring that people wear masks and maintain social distance. Safety norms must not be flouted by the people. Covid-appropriate behaviour and avoiding crowded places will bring down the number of Covid cases in the UT.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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Impose weekend lockdown strictly

The weekend lockdown/curfew helps, but only if enforced strictly by the authorities concerned. During the weekend lockdown, people and children can be seen in parks exercising and even riding bikes on roads. They also travel to their relatives’ place or nearby town where lockdown hasn’t been imposed. They proudly post their pictures of their unlawful travel on social media, thereby inciting others to do the same. Such people should be dealt with strictly. The police should set up barriers on inner roads and near parks to check flouting of the lockdown. Violators of norms and the ones, who wander aimlessly outside their houses, should be punished. People must understand that the weekend lockdown is not for socialising, exercising or loitering outside their homes.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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A welcome step of the administration

The Administration’s decision to impose weekend lockdown in the UT is certainly a welcome step. It will help in breaking the chain of Covid-19 transmission. Safety of residents is much more important than anything else. Whatever action can minimise infections must be initiated by the Administration immediately and followed by the public. Many people don’t wear face masks or follow social distancing norm. It’s duty of all to take ample precautions to keep ourselves and others safe from the deadly disease and help the authorities in containing the spread of the virus.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Initiate steps to reduce crowding

The second wave of Covid-19 has put the Union Territory in a troubled situation. Undoubtedly, the weekend lockdown is not going to curb the rising coronavirus cases, but will slow down the infection upto certain extent. Focus should be on creating awareness about Covid guidelines and safety norms. It will stop people from going out unnecessarily. Besides, steps to reduce crowding will definitely reduce virus transmission.

Parampreet Kaur, Chandigarh

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A Govt’s ploy to convince public

Weekend restrictions like night curfew is just a ploy to convince public that the authorities are doing something and not shying away from their efforts to contain the pandemic. In reality, however, these measures are ineffective. When all vehicles and transport is allowed, offices are working, gatherings are allowed at religious places, weddings and funerals, the purpose of lockdown is defeated. If anybody loitering on roads is challenged, he/she will give 20 excuses to get exemption from challan. Only complete lockdown for a short span with strict closure of all activities rather than weekend lockdown will contain the virus.

Bubby Soin, Chandigarh

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Tricity should be under lockdown

Weekend Lockdown cannot help if whole tricity does not impose it as one unit. Last week only Mohali and Chandigarh imposed lockdown. The purpose is half achieved as people moved from Panchkula to Chandigarh and Mohali and vice-versa, which might have spread the virus. Partial Lockdown give poor results because of the porous boundaries with the surrounding areas, which cannot be sealed effectively. We must not fear, but fight the pandemic unitedly by following norms strictly.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Avoid repetition of last year restrictions

Week end lockdown may not be effective as presumed. Rather, it would jeopardise the economy. Avoid repetition of last year restrictions, which disrupted the financial cycle. Even, our Prime Minister has said that lockdown should be the last resort and can be avoided. The government is doing its best to control the virus. Now, its citizens turn to follow Covid norms, get vaccinated and stay safe.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Residents must act responsibly

Imposing weekend lockdown in Chandigarh may not be enough. Covid-19 cases are going out of control. In this situation residents should realise their responsibility and take precautions strictly. We can check the spread of virus. On the other hand the authorities should not hesitate to impose strict restrictions. Shopping timing need to be curtailed to avoid rush in markets, besides imposing night curfew.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

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Safety guidelines not enforced properly

Except for the business and the trading community the decision of imposing weekend lockdown by the Chandigarh Administration has been welcomed by all. But, the main issue with these lockdown is that there is no proper enforcement of the guidelines. Many people still flout the Covid management guidelines openly. Unless people do not get disciplined no lockdown or curfew will contain the coronavirus. Sometimes it appears that lockdown is a late decision as the infection has increased exponentially.

Dr Anil Yadav, Chandigarh

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A panic reaction

‘Auron ko nasihat, khud mian fazihat’ (precept sans example). This sums up the root cause of the alarming escalation of the Covid menace. But panic reactions like weekend curfews and lockdown kill the patient more than the virus. For many life is meaningless without livelihood. Instead, Section 144 like restrictions need to be clamped all over till the Covid monster is tamed. All congregations whether social, commercial, religious or political must be banned without exception. Guards are lowered only at our peril. Weekend lockdown are akin to pennywise pound foolish. Such restrictions do more harm than good and should best be avoided.

Lalit Bharadwaj , Panchkula

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Will stop outsiders from entering UT

Weekend lockdown/curfew was a good step to stop the second wave of the coronavirus. As Chandigarh is famous tourist place people from all over country come here and spend their weekends. People are not taking coronavirus seriously. One can well imagine malls and eating joints full to their capacity the whole day without any fear of the virus. Lockdown will slowdown movement of the people in the city and also stop outsiders from entering the UT. The Administration can instal vending machines for masks and sanitser dispensers at crowded places in the city to protect them from the pandemic.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Realise severity of the second wave

Covid cases are rising in the city. Realising the severity of the second Covid-19 wave it is essential that weekend lockdown should be imposed not only in the UT, but in the entire tricity to break the pandemic chain and abate the present crisis.

RPS Chopra, Chandigarh

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Self help is only remedy

Rising coronavirus cases have jeopardised the economy. It highlights carelessness on part of the public and inefficiency on part of the government. Lack of preparation for emergency and rallies/elections have added fuel to the fire. People should find means to protect themselves. Night curfew will only affect hospitality business. To cut the transmission of the deadly pandemic the government should impose total lockdown for 15 days.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

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Will not help in battle against coronavirus

Looking at the gravity of the situation, state after state including the Chandigarh Administration is imposing night curfew/lockdown, which is undesirable. This was the horrified experience India had faced during the first Covid wave. During his address Prime Minister Narendra Modi admitted indirectly that the last lockdown imposed across the nation in 2020 proved disaster. The lockdown is the last resort to face the virus. The only option to contain the virus is to vigorously test, trace, isolate and treat infected persons. Administering vaccine to maximum beneficiaries, creating awareness about benefits of inoculation and ensuring compliance of the Covid safety measures is the need of the hour.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

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QUESTION

With a shortage of ICU beds in hospitals, Covid drugs and oxygen, how can the Administration deal with increasing cases of coronavirus in Chandigarh?

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