Jalandhar letters (7)

Please wear masks, shut schools, avoid futile gatherings…life is too precious to lose

Strap: Residents drive their point home as the spectre of second wave bulges, ask govt to stop skirting the issue and do the needful

Nothing can be left to chance

As the state has alarmingly witnessed second surge in the spread of Covid-19 cases, the government has initiated certain steps in tune with existing protocols but the same are not sufficient in view of people’s casual attitude towards much publicised preventive measures. It is generally observed that the majority of moving public is not strictly following the basic precautions like wearing a mask as per norms, maintaining required distance, frequently getting sanitised and avoiding public places. Under such a pathetic scenario, the government’s role assumes more responsibility, though there is nothing new to add to already prescribed guidelines which only need to be streamlined while ensuring strict compliance thereof. The government has already announced the reduction in the maximum number allowed for outdoor and indoor gatherings but nothing about its enforcement on the ground is visible. The government must curb avoidable gatherings at religious, social and market places followed by strict enforcement of rules. Though the second phase of vaccination drive is underway, it does not, in any way, provides assurance of herd immunity and since comprehensive efficacy of vaccines is still at the trial stage, nothing can be left to chance and no laxity in discipline and precautions is affordable. The government needs to watch the situation very carefully and in case it warrants more drastic measures, it must act accordingly with urgency and required speed. Jagdish Chander

People don’t care about wearing mask

Covid cases are surging in the city and people are responsible for that since they are not wearing mask. I have witnessed numerous people around the market who keep roaming here and there without maintaining social distancing. People need to understand this and should follow the norms. Roaming around the market is not wrong but to break the norms is perilous. I would like to emphasise on the fact that public should follow the two major things and that is wearing a mask and distancing. It is the only way through which we can curb the spread. If people keep flouting the rules, the government will become harsh on them and whole society will be in trouble. SAAHIL HANS

Follow the ‘Covid manual’ rolled out by govt

The pandemic shocked the world last year; lacks of innocent lost their lives. There was no medicine available at that time only strict measures were implemented. As in India the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendera Modi and the state government led by Capt Amarinder Singh left no stone unturned to curb the menace of virus in the state by imposing strict measures like wearing masks, using sanitisers for handwashing, by using namaste gesture for greeting, imposing the lockdown and curfew throughout Punjab. Even though cases were detected, many were cured and a few lost their lives. As now the vaccine is available and the shots are being given in two phases. The government has even given permission to the private hospitals to give doses to the masses above the age of 60 with cost from the beneficiary of Covid vaccine. No doubt India has successfully carried out the drive against the virus, even now keeping view the second surge in the state the government should try to make a plan on how to dilute huge crowds in the bazaars by educating the masses to follow the rules as prescribed by the Union Ministry and the state government against coronavirus, making use of masks, using hand sanitisers and by keeping a distance as prescribed in the manuals to prevent Covid-19. Safety measures adopted by us will certainly keep others safe. Rajat Kumar

Repercussions of laxity harsh, so be wary

Wearing of masks should be made mandatory. Those who do not adhere to the norms should be penalised. Heavy fine should be imposed on those who are throwing away the caution to the wind. Though a curfew should not be imposed because it will affect the livelihood of people, they should be sensitised about the gravity of the situation and constant monitoring should be undertaken by the administration. All the shops/offices should be asked to have a sanitiser at the front desk, all the people working there should wear masks and no one should be allowed to enter the premises without one. The Punjab Government should cancel all state-level functions/fairs where there are chances of huge crowds amassing. A cap should be put on the number of people getting together for public gatherings. Social distancing is nowhere observed in crowded bazaars and social gatherings. Education is the only way to make people aware of the repercussions of this laxity. Spreading awareness through print and social media and reaching out to a general populace can save us from becoming a victim to this dreaded virus once again. Dr Rana Preet Gill

Police must fine unhesitatingly

In spite of the surge of the second wave of Covid-19 in Punjab, rather in many parts of the country, people are careless and carefree about protection from the virus by wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings. The government is also going soft on the public about such delinquency. Why not be strict about it and punish such people which will be exemplary to others also. Maharshtra has implemented the lockdown in Amravati and other cities, so has Tamil Nadu. The police are fining the people who don’t wear masks, from Rs500-Rs1000. The Punjab Government also needs to do the same. During the lockdown and curfew, when the pandemic was raging and death toll was increasing, police were serving meals to the people at their homes. Now they should be very strict against such careless behaviour of the people and fine them. I got injected with two jabs of Covidshield vaccines but I observe proper measures as before. The team from the Centre might make the state government more careful and strict to stop this surge. Life is too precious to be lost because of such carelessness. Dr JS Wadhwa

Everything is out of place

As we all know that second wave is more dangerous and more alarming than the first one. High-headedness of government to open school and colleges, please postpone till the situation is normal and cases fall. We are talking about the second wave; first one is not still over, daily so many cases are reporting. Nobody is seriously following safety protocols and there is no check from the authorities also. Nobody is wearing a mask and it seems that the person who is wearing one is infected. It is the duty of the government to strictly enforce all the safety measures by decreasing community participation and follow social distancing. Covid-19 taught us everything, from washing hands to sanitising. All these efforts will surely help in preventing people from getting affected from the virus. The authorities must enforce a limited lockdown in hotspots where the cases are high and stop movement from these areas to other non-containment areas. Strict surveillance is needed to isolate the infected people as quickly as possible and quick quarantine of close contacts. My request to all my countrymen is not to take it lightly and follow all safety protocols. Restrict yourself from going to malls and all public gatherings. SHASHI KIRAN

Resurgence in cases likely due to laxity

Amid conflicting opinions about India reaching herd immunity, most of our leading epidemiologists and virologists have ruled out the possibility of a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the sudden spike in viral infections and fatalities in several states is worrisome. Punjab has also witnessed a three-fourth rise in such cases in three weeks. This resurgence can mainly be attributed to the controversial resumption of normal economic and social activity post-lockdown, and passive indifference and complacency to masks, social distancing and self-sanitisation measures, courtesy lax attitude of the public as well as the government towards health protocols. Despite successful aggressive vaccination drive in the state, the virus has relentlessly refused to retreat. Fearing that the state may face repeated waves with more contagious and virulent strains in the coming months, we need to formulate a comprehensive strategy and make arrangements to deal with this unwanted situation. The government should ramp up its public healthcare infrastructure and strengthen the mechanism for effective surveillance, tracking, testing and treatment of positive patients. Roping in private hospitals for the purpose is quite appreciable. The government should also boost people’s confidence to rein in vaccine hesitancy and solicit their support and cooperation to stop the spread of the new pathogen. Realising the severity of the disease, the public should remain vigilant and strictly follow Covid guidelines or the authorities should enforce their compliance. If the cases still go up, there is no harm in resorting to another lockdown as in large parts of Europe, whatever the cost. Nothing, after all, is more precious than human life. DS Kang