Covid-19 restrictions return: 2022 going the way of 2020?

Avneet Kaur

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 4

Even though we are yet to recover from the devastating impacts of Covid-19 lockdowns imposed during the first and second wave, there is already a third wave knocking at the door. As the Covid curbs announced on Tuesday have once again led to the closure of schools, colleges, gym and stadia, those at the receiving end are gym owners and college students.

Streets wear a deserted look

• With fewer vehicles on roads, Jalandhar observed its first day of night curfew on Tuesday. The streets wore a deserted look as markets were closed before 10 pm owing to bad weather and curfew
• There were no police nakas inside the city, not even at the main chowks including BMC, Model town and Nakodar Chowk. However, at BSF Chowk police personnel were seen checking vehicles of those commuting after 10pm
• No extra force was deployed; only patrolling vehicles were seen taking rounds of the city
• Police officials said as it was the first day of restrictions on Tuesday so they were being lenient and making people aware about the latest Covid guidelines announced by the state government

Covid curbs

• Night curfew from 10pm to 5am
• Mask and social distancing mandatory
• Bars, cinemas halls, malls, restaurants, spas to operate at 50% capacity
• Gyms will remain shut
• Only fully vaccinated staff allowed to attend government offices, as well as private offices

What about political rallies, ask residents

• Instead of a night curfew, the government should first ban all political rallies and events. You make masks and social distancing mandatory for the public while the politicians openly violate guidelines. Last year, too, large political gatherings held in Bengal were responsible for the spread of covid and not gyms or colleges, said Balminder Kaur, a resident.

As per information, the colleges are yet to hold semester exams and were already lying shut for over a month owing to the strike of PFUCTO (Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation). Now, with fresh curbs, the students say that they stare at a bleak future as they have no information about when the exams will be held.

The gym owners say they haven’t really come out of the financial crunch caused due to Covid-19 restrictions last year and now again the government had announced closure. On the other hand, the hoteliers and club management also fear that their businesses will suffer losses in the coming weeks due to 50% capacity condition.

Students stressed about college, their futures

“It’s been over a year and a half since we haven’t attended classes on the campus. No one knows when Covid will subside. There are many risks and dangers, but life doesn’t stop. The government before announcing closure of colleges must hand over a plan to the college and university authorities about the unfinished semester and how they will conduct the exams. We cannot simply sit at home and wait,” said Sanskriti, a mass communication student at LPU.

When asked about semester exams and teachers strike, Dr Gurpinder Singh Samra, Principal, Lyallpur Khalsa College, said: “We had come a long way and at this point we can’t call off our protest as implementation of the 7th Pay Commission in the state is both about teachers rights and students future”. About the semester exam, Dr Samra said: “If the situation doesn’t improve then the government must form a high-level committee and pass orders allowing universities and colleges to take the exam before March via online or offline mode.”

Meanwhile, parents were happy with the decision of closing the schools amid Omicron scare. They said life is more important than materialistic sources of the world, so exposing students to deadly diseases is foolishness.

Rachna Monga, Principal, Sanskriti KMV School, said: “Schools were already closed till 10th for winter vacation. Although there’s nothing to worry as we are all prepared for online mode with better infrastructure and tools in hand. And if the government allows offline classes, we’ll prioritise students’ health and follow the guidelines strictly besides making vaccination mandatory for 15-18 age group”.

What small business owners, hoteliers say

As the state may face the possibility of shifting to stricter restrictions or even lockdown, if the situation doesn’t improve, the restaurant owners and small businessmen apprehend another wave of layoffs and losses.

Ashwani Sharma, Executive Housekeeper at Ramada, said: “The government along with curbs or lockdowns must announce relief packages for the businessmen as shifting to 50% capacity or closing the hotel isn’t so easy.” He said since the curbs were announced in the morning, no customers had paid a visit and if it continues this way, the staff at the workplaces will suffer the most.”

Another Kamlesh Kumar, owner of a sanitary shop said: “We have seen a lot in the past due to lockdown. The government was of no help, it was we who bore the brunt of no income. So, the government must be prepared this time, so do the people that such a situation may not arise again”.

‘No gym, no vote’

The gym owners said like last year, this time too the government had permitted all businesses, including liquor vends to function but gyms were not allowed to function even with restrictions. “Why doesn’t the government understand that we have to pay rent of our premises, salaries to employees, power tariff, maintenance cost of machineries and other unseen expenditures, besides we have to feed our families too. If other businesses can operate with restrictions, then why not gyms,” said Harvinder Singh of Power X Gym situated in Maqsudan.

The gym owners have also started circulating the messages and graphics saying ‘no gym, no vote’ to lodge their protest. A banner of Udaan Gym reads: “With closure of fitness classes and gyms, the government is stopping the population from remaining fit and healthy. Opening of fitness institutions pulls people towards making their immune system stronger and making everyone able to fight any deadly viruses, hence ‘We support gyms’ and if no gym then no vote.

Meanwhile, as per government orders, “the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium will remain closed from January 4 to January 15. Only players preparing for national/international tournaments were allowed to play that too after taking prior permission from the interim committee, DBA,” said Ritin Khanna, Member Secretary, District Badminton Association, Jalandhar.