Restrictions no remedy, respecting norms holds the key

OPEN HOUSE: DO YOU THINK NIGHT CURFEW IN THE STATE WILL HELP IN RESTRAINING COVID SPREAD?

People must follow health guidelines

The sudden hike in number of Covid cases around the nation is a matter of concern. The second wave of the virus is at its peak. Solely blaming the government for the spike is not right. Many people don”t follow norms like wearing face masks or maintaining distance at various public places throwing the safety norms to the winds.Citizens can help the authorities fight and control the pandemic by following guidelines honestly. They should cooperate with the government.

Saahil Hans

Restrict unwanted movement of people

I don’t think that night curfew can decrease the rate of Covid infections until people start following the norms properly. We could have avoided the present situation if we had followed the guidelines earlier itself. Imposition of night curfew will help restricting the movement of people at night but what about daytime? The situation can’t be handled until people cooperate with the government and follow the norms strictly.

Briksha Malhotra

Will certainly help in containing covid

The pandemic has spread its tentacles, due to government apathy and mismanagement. Inability to predict its virulence and future course of action, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and lack of public awareness and participation in the fight against the virus comprise of the reasons behind the spike in cases. With the tally and toll increasing by record-high daily, the second wave is proving to be more destructive than the previous one. Unfortunately, faced with an acute shortage of oximetres, oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, ventilators, vaccines and other medicines, medical staff, ambulances and even crematoriums and burial places, the nation has already stretched its healthcare resources and is facing a severe strain. The Centre and state governments are on tenterhooks to contain community transmission of the virus. In view of the worsening situation, many states have resorted to night curfews and weekend lockdowns, despite experts questioning their logic and efficacy. They consider these preventive measures unscientific and impractical which will undermine economic activity and lead to loss of jobs and livelihoods. But the safety of human lives is more important than economic revival. Though night curfew will not break the viral transmission chain, it will certainly make a dent. Under its psychological impact, people will realise gravity of the situation and avoid venturing out for unnecessary socialisation at parties and binges. Moreover, night curfew will provide some respite to overwhelmingly stressed healthcare workers and facilities. Since the current humanitarian crisis may not end any time soon, we should emulate western countries to formulate well-devised and coordinated plans to reduce the Covid onslaught. Mending its past mistakes, the government should strengthen national healthcare system, ramp up tracing, testing and treatment process, revamp vaccination drive, impose a cap on mega social, political and religious gatherings, and ensure strict compliance with Covid protocols.

DS Kang

Lockdown should be imposed

Unfortunately, the second wave of Covid-19,which is more contagious and lethal than the previous one is here. The situation has worsened as the virus has mutated. Rather than imposing night curfew, the government must announce lockdown for a week or 10 days to break the chain,as is being done in UP and Rajasthan. A large number of people can be seen flouting the norms at public places, which needs to be checked. People must know their responsibility and cooperate with the government in following the norms to check the spread of the virus. Though daily-wagers suffer a lot due to lockdown, there is no other effective way to break the chain and stop the transmission among masses. Many European countries are re-imposing lockdown because of the resurgence. The rate of vaccination needs to be increased drastically. Health infrastructure too needs to be ramped up as was done in China and other countries. The government must ban political rallies. Prestigious medical journal Lancet had published in its latest edition that Covid-19 is air-borne and one does not need to be in direct contact with the patient to be infected. Thus people must always wear mask while going outside.

Dr JS Wadhwa

Authorities should be stricter

Second wave of Covid is proving to be more dangerous than the previous one. After a little respite since the outbreak, the nation is witnessing a sudden spike in number of cases and fatalities. Reviewing the scenario, the Centre and state governments had issued revised guidelines to break the chain. The Maharashtra Government had imposed complete lockdown for one week in view of the situation going out of control. With the situation deteriorating in Punjab, the state government resorted to extended night curfew from 8pm to 5 am besides, other measures to check the spread. Hotels, gyms, restaurants, cinemas, shopping malls have been closed and shops and bazaars have been asked to follow the norms strictly. At this juncture, most of the people do realise the intensity of the current wave, yet a few question the relevance of night curfew to contain the spread. People still can be found flouting the norms. The authorities should be more strict against the violators as mere imposition of night curfew will not suffice.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Ramp up vaccination drive in the state

Amid the second wave, night curfew has been imposed in many states and UTs. But it seems to be a futile exercise and will not serve the purpose. Majority of people remain indoors at night and markets, malls and stores also shut down at a fixed time. Night curfew will rather increase rush at these places during daytime and worsen the situation. It will also hit the economic interests of owners of hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars, and deprive their workers of livelihoods. There is no substitute to efficient pandemic preparedness and management. Keeping in view the transmissibility and lethality of the new strains, the government should augment the supply of medical equipment, vaccines and medicines. It is shameful that the general public does not understand the gravity of the situation and still flout the norms. The government should act strictly against the violators. The announcement of a liberalised vaccination strategy by the Centre is a welcome step that will help us reach herd immunity and eventually tide over the severe Covid crisis.

Tajpreet S Kang

A wake-up call for govt, people

Imposition of night curfew as a measure to curb the spread of virus will definitely benefit if implemented strictly. It is nothing but a soft option of lockdown which is recommended to be enforced as alast resort in view of its worst effects on economic activities and livelihood of citizens. Night curfew is considered to be the best tool ofcreating general awareness about the urgent need of adopting Covid-19appropriate discipline in the society. This should be taken as a wakeup call for people, necessitating the required preparation to face the worst situation at any time in future. However, the benefits accrued through it cannot be allowed to be wasted through unregulated social behavior during the non-curfew day hours. The public should continue wearing masks as per the prescribed manner, avoid gatherings, sanitise hands at regular intervals, maintain physical distancing, avoid going leaving unless for essential activities, ensure physical fitness through yoga and exercises coupled with simple nutritious food, and above all a positive attitude towards life and the society.

Jagdish Chander

Will help check the spread of virus

Owing to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the state, under the new notification by the government, gatherings at weddings, funerals and other religious functions have been capped and cinemas, hotels, gyms, coaching centres and sports complexes have been closed. The government should impose a complete lockdown that will restrict the movement of people and will help breaking the chain. People will be saved from the virus by administering the vaccine to them or making them avoid coming in contact with the virus.

Shashi Kiran

Will help know gravity of situation

• The administration can issue orders and check their implementation, but it is the duty of the people to follow the norms in the public interest to curb the menace of Covid-19.
• Keeping in mind the second wave of the pandemic, imposition of night curfew is a good decision as it will help people wake up to the gravity of the situation. It will prove to be more effective in districts such as Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
• Earlier, night curfew was imposed from 9 pm to 5 am, but the government increased the duration by one hour and nowit begins from 8 pm. The main objective of the government andthe administration is to break the chain, which is the main reason behind the recent surge in the number of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 in the country.
• It is high time that people follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare strictly to check the spread. Also, the vaccination drive should be ramped up

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

QUESTION

The government is set to start vaccination for those between 18 and 45 years. Amid the present situation of shortage of vaccines, do you think the state will be able to meet the requirement?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to jalandhardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (April 29).