Admn is there only to enforce what we should be doing

OPEN HOUSE: DO YOU THINK ADMN IS TAKING ENOUGH STEPS TOWARDS MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING AT PUBLIC PLACES?

How to tackle virus? Here you go

The administration is not doing enough to force the restrictions. People are openly roaming about without mask, there is no enforcement of the night curfew, and no restriction on gatherings. Sunday restrictions on restaurants, eating places, dhabas are not there to be seen. People are not getting tested for Covid. Following are my suggestions:

1. Strict enforcement of the restrictions imposed by the government.

2. Encourage and enforce Covid-appropriate behavior in offices and public places.

3. Though vaccination process is going on well it needs to be sped up by countering the rumors about its ill-effects on social media. Famous personalities and religious leaders should be involved in creating awareness

4. People should get themselves tested promptly when advised by the doctor. Usually out of 10 patients who are advised testing only two-three get tested. So many cases are going undetected and are part of the resurge.

5. We must gear up the treatment facilities at level two and three in the district.

6. Strict monitoring of the home quarantined patients to avoid sudden deterioration.

—Dr Rajender Sharma

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Go hard on violators of guidelines

Masks are worn by people but they do not pay much attention to physical distancing. Due to the heat, people of the city wear a handkerchief or a scarf, which are very light and thin. This is the vaccine for them and the protection from police fines. Along with the mask, social distance should be emphasised. Because masks and sanitisers available in grocery stores, clinics, mall and banks of the city but the distancing is nowhere to be seen. The administration needs to articulate its importance in maintaining social distance. Grocery stores, doctors’ clinics, malls and popular market places like Mai Hiran Gate should be monitored by the administration. Strict action should be taken against those who violate social distance.

—Nikita Sharma

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The second wave is our cross to bear

Covid-19 has us in a spot again, unfortunately. After the minimum number of cases, that is positivity rate, by the end of the year, the positive cases are rising again exponentially. Because of the downward trend then, people had become too complacent and careless as if the Covid had already ended. But they were totally wrong. The viruses get mutated and then people get even more severely affected, causing more morbidly and mortality. Still, in spite of the night curfew and penalties for not wearing masks, people don’t care thinking that Covid won’t affect them. The police and the administration are trying to do their best but still more needs to be done. More strictness and penalising those who flout the protocols are needed. Even putting those people behind the bars for a short duration will teach them a good lesson and also for the general public too. During Holi, many people didn’t follow the rules nor avoided large gatherings. The political leaders and social workers should also come to the fore and motivate the public by giving personal examples about observing the prescribed protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Staying at home is the best solution. The responsibility for this is on all of us.

—Dr JS Wadhwa

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Altering bazaars’ timings would help

The administration can issue orders and it is up to the masses to implement the orders with sincerity. ‘Prevention is better than Cure’, the Union Government , state government, Health Department, district administration, media has left no stone unturned in highlighting the negative impacts of Covid-19 and all the how-tos to keep the virus at bay. Even though dose of vaccination to the masses for Covid-19 is in progress, it will take a lot of time to cover a country having population of more than 130 crore. As last year when the Pandemic engulfed the whole world, the masses around the globe were in a dilemma due to deaths. The masses strictly followed the suggestions of the Health Department be it distancing, wearing masks, sanitisers, but when the government lifted restrictions they forgot the impact of Covid. Even though the Police and the Health Department is carrying out strict vigil for those who are without masks and are heavily fined, even then the masses do not care. No distancing, especially in the bazaars, shopping complexes, and public places is common. The administration should make a mechanism that the timings of various bazaars be changed to curb the menace of rush and traffic hazards. Some bazaars’ opening time should be earlier along with evening closing time adjusted simultaneously, while some bazaars’ timing should remain the same. If the masses fail to follow the prescribed norms as directed by the Ministry of Health, the result is known to all of us.

—Rajat Kumar Mohindru

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We all are not self-disciplined

The normal life of people has come to halt in spite of all the precautionary measures and directions issued by the administration, the pandemic has made the routine life difficult especially the poor citizens and badly affected their livelihood. The directives and guidelines are not being adhered to. People care two hoots for the law and order. But who is responsible for the failure? I hold the administration responsible because law enforcement authorities, police, failed to implement it. They should have been very strict and fined heavily against the lawbreakers. Only 40 per cent wear masks and maintain social distance. We are not self-disciplined and take pride in breaking the rules. It has also been noticed and found that people are having a lot of family social functions as one could hear music being played at night even after 9 pm, so curfew has no meanings. The police do not bother to take defaulters to task.

—Col GS Bhullar

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Strict implementation of guidelines key

It is now one year that the Central and state governments started their fight against the onslaught of the pandemic that triggered an unprecedented public health and economic crisis enveloping the entire country. Despite the lockdown, issuance of health and safety guidelines, roll out of indigenous Covaxin and Covishield vaccines, massive testing and treatment, and aggressive inoculation drive, the deadly virus has repeatedly refused to relent; rather, it is becoming more and more assertive with the passage of time. The blunder of lifting the lockdown restrictions, albeit in a phased manner, for resumption of economic activity has led to a highly improper, inappropriate Covid behaviour. But for some five-month respite when the positive cases dipped low, the sudden surge in fresh infections and death rate this February with a more lethal UK strain during second wave has reached alarming proportions in some states, including Punjab. The state government has imposed night curfew and increased the number of vaccine centres to check the mysterious transmission. Though the Health Department and police and civil administrations have determined to take a tough action against those not wearing masks, the irresponsible and unwarranted laxity and complacency on the part of authorities and the people to strictly implement and follow the mandatory Covid protocols is the core problem. The government should address vaccine skepticism and hesitancy concerns and bolster public trust and confidence. No permission should be given to super-spreader social, religious and political events, whatever the compulsions. There is dire need to scale up inoculation programme to produce maximum immunogenicity to the virus. The government should emulate Australia and New Zealand’s timely and well-conceived efforts till the country settles into a ‘Covid normal’ to outrightly suppress or eliminate the ambiguous pathogen. A herculean task, indeed! Let us hope for a safer, brighter and better future.

—DS Kang

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Govt is only doing lip service

The government is only doing lip service and seems helpless in implementing the preventive measures for coronavirus. The following measures might help:

1. No entry to government or private offices or banks without mask.

2. No train or bus ticket without showing a mask.

3. Make the organisers distribute masks at the entry of functions.

These measures will sensitise the masses regarding the second wave.

—Dr Kuldip Singh

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Frequent reminders of protocols required

Why blame administration for everything that goes wrong? Maintaining social distance is the duty of the people. We should take the onus in saving ourselves. Administration is there only to enforce what we should be doing. The spike in Doaba is getting worse. We should avoid crowded places and shun gatherings. Administration can launch more awareness campaigns and impose fines. Rest is up to us. Human lives matter and our sensitivity towards maintaining protocols can save these lives. When this thought will sink in, every individual will do his duty towards the society. Till then administration needs to gear up and carry on with task of penalising the violators. I want to see the message about Covid protocols scribbled in bold on the billboards at several places in the city. People need frequent reminders so the message has to get viral and flashed everywhere.

—Dr Rana Preet Gill

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Administration needs to be proactive

It is a matter of great concern and sorrow that the administration is not taking enough steps towards maintaining distancing at public places. Given the present pathetic scenario of rapidly surging daily cases of new variant, the norms of distancing are required to be strictly maintained at any cost. But it is most unfortunate that the administration is behaving like a helpless spectator only. The people seem to have thrown all norms to the wind and criminally neglected to abide by the rules for individual safety as well the society as a whole. But the administration cannot afford to be complacent anymore and have to rise to the occasion and take all necessary steps to ensure compliance of distancing strictly as per safety protocols. The limiting of numbers in gathering of any type will not help even if twenty persons at a gathering of any type are not strictly following the prescribed distancing norms. The administration needs to be proactive to ensure enforcement with zero toleration. Otherwise, the society will have to bear unimaginable consequences.

—Jagdish Chander

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Don’t step outside without a mask

Wearing mask or not wearing mask is the question of life and death. Taking necessary precautions during Covid-19 is crucial. The people going to shops, offices or any other workplace need to be wearing masks. It should be clearly written on a board ‘no mask, no entry’. It’s still a debatable issue whether mask saves us but at this crucial time without putting ourselves in any debate, masks helps to restrict virus transmission. Actually transmission occurs mostly inside the house living with an infected person with close proximity but masks are for others if we are infected. It’s better to be cautious. Don’t step outside without a mask. It’s almost a year, coronavirus is ready for a second major assault and the lockdown is back. Administration should take a serious note and levy heavy penalty for not wearing masks in a bid to help control the surge. Now, it should be made mandatory to wear masks. The government is already collecting heavy fines. We should keep our masks readily available at an approachable place so that we don’t forget to wear them while going out. It’s often noticed that in order to keep from fine and punishment, people used to borrow other person’s used mask which is very dangerous. Administration is already doing a very good job but it needs to be uncompromising when it comes to violating norms.

—Shashi Kiran

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Covid-appropriate behaviour mandatory

After inoculation of the elderly and the frontline warriors, the Health Department has now teamed up for the quick jab to all eligible above 45 years along with the second shot to 60-plus. Simultaneously, door-to-door surveillance and testing is also envisaged in view of the spike in cases. While these measures intended to combat the disease are appreciable, enhanced attention is required to maintain cleanliness and comply with the distancing norms meticulously. Mask, a panacea to keep the disease at bay, many people still do not wear besides indulging in frequent violations of reduced gatherings norms. Strangely, during the festivals and on social functions when utmost care is needed, people hardly abide by such restrictions. With the result, there is a spike in the number of fresh cases and the daily death rate is sharply increasing in many parts of the country. In Punjab, especially Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and nine other districts, the fatality rate is relatively so high that night curfew has been imposed from 9 pm to 5 am. Here, other than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, the UK variant B.1.1.7 is found more active which is substantially deadly. It is apprehended that the situation may further aggravate during wheat harvesting operations where it becomes all the more difficult to maintain prescribed disciplines. Reviewing the abrupt surge in active cases, the Union Government has observed that micro-containment zones may not be enough, rather the whole district be put under stringent measures like the lockdown to break the chain.

—Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

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We need to take care of ourselves

I feel that the Health and Police Department are checking people who are without masks, but not taking enough measures in maintaining social distance at public places. Covid tests are installed near traffic lights but what is the benefit if there is no eye on the people making big gatherings. Big bash weddings are not a necessity but our health is! But it is our duty as well to make sure that we keep ourselves safe in every possible manner. We cannot merely be dependent on someone to keep check on us.

—Anuja Sharma

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Citizens must cooperate with govt

In my opinion the government may be taking sincere steps to ensure social distancing at public places, but such efforts prove to be useful only with the cooperation of the fellow citizens. The administration has imposed night curfew, limited the presence of people at public and private events, announced fine if a person is found without a mask, etc but still I witness many people violating the given guidelines. The major reason for such is corruption on a massive scale in our country. A person can easily escape from these guidelines by feeding the concerned official with enough amounts. There are boundaries and steps for people to stand on, in order to keep a distance from each other but the people of our country do not realise the seriousness of this grave situation and ignore as if there is no such thing as the Covid-19 and the government has just made it up for their own advantages. But through this platform I would like to inform and warn all the people of this nation to support the administration in this difficult period of time so that we can go back to normal and prosper as before.

—Lehar

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Some takeaways to tackle resurge

• Instead of issuing challans for not wearing masks, police parties should be accompanied by a mask vendor so that a violator of the rules buys a mask on the spot. Otherwise after paying the fine, violator continues his/her journey without it, thus endangering his and others' life.
• No road shows or rallies should be allowed during election campaigns. Instead all political parties should be given time at Doordarshan or they may avail the services of electronic or print or digital media to put their point of view across the people.
• All private health centres in the district permitted for vaccination for coronavirus disease are working for limited number of days per week. Whereas they should render this service for all the seven days so that all are vaccinated in a shortest possible time frame.
• The Centre and State should solve all the genuine problems of the people so as to avoid an agitational approach of a segment of the society. Farmers' agitation is pending since long. Local safari karamcharis are on the agitation path, their problem should be solved at the earliest so as to avoid gathering of protesters.
• State government should take some effective steps to control the spread of this deadly virus instead of taking fake measures like night curfew or one hour break on every Saturday to pay respects to departed souls.
• The DC, ADC, SDMs, Police and Municipal Commissioners should lead the raiding parties for implementing norms for outdoor gatherings.
• In places like post offices and banks, norms for physical distancing are not observed properly, so local administration should pay attention to it.
• All local municipal councillors, MLAs and MPs should start door-to-door campaign to ask people to observe all norms to prevent the spread, as they do at the time of their canvassing during election.
• Instead of issuing challans for not wearing masks, police parties should be accompanied by a mask vendor so that a violator of the rules buys a mask on the spot. Otherwise after paying the fine, violator continues his/her journey without it, thus endangering his and others' life.
• No road shows or rallies should be allowed during election campaigns. Instead all political parties should be given time at Doordarshan or they may avail the services of electronic or print or digital media to put their point of view across the people.
• All private health centres in the district permitted for vaccination for coronavirus disease are working for limited number of days per week. Whereas they should render this service for all the seven days so that all are vaccinated in a shortest possible time frame.
• The Centre and State should solve all the genuine problems of the people so as to avoid an agitational approach of a segment of the society. Farmers' agitation is pending since long. Local safari karamcharis are on the agitation path, their problem should be solved at the earliest so as to avoid gathering of protesters.
• State government should take some effective steps to control the spread of this deadly virus instead of taking fake measures like night curfew or one hour break on every Saturday to pay respects to departed souls.
• The DC, ADC, SDMs, Police and Municipal Commissioners should lead the raiding parties for implementing norms for outdoor gatherings.
• In places like post offices and banks, norms for physical distancing are not observed properly, so local administration should pay attention to it.
• All local municipal councillors, MLAs and MPs should start door-to-door campaign to ask people to observe all norms to prevent the spread, as they do at the time of their canvassing during election.

—Naresh Johar

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QUESTION

Is resentment of parents on exam postponement justified when they themselves clamoured for closure of schools after mass students tested positive just a few weeks ago?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to [email protected] by Thursday (April 8).