Open house: What should be done to check further spread of Covid in Ludhiana district?

Wear mask to save lives

With coronavirus showing signs of re-emergence, fatalities may start to rise if precautions are not taken and the entire population is not vaccinated. Though it’s important for everyone to wear mask while going out, some people don’t do the same. Many who refuse to wear a face mask can’t understand the seriousness of the situation. People must wear the mask to save lives, including their own.

Novin Christopher

Get vaccinated to fight virus

In a big city such as Ludhiana, it will be difficult to control hazards of the third wave of Covid as there is still a large number of population which is not fully vaccinated and many are those who are not even vaccinated once. Our safety is in our own hands. Those who are fully vaccinated must be ready for the Covid booster dose. Negligence in getting vaccinated can create a health emergency that will be difficult to manage. Nowadays, we are not taking safety precautions such as wearing mask and using hand sanitiser. Precautions are the need of the hour. Extra care must be given to the elderly and children. Parents must get their children vaccinated without any fear as the government is allowing kids within the age group of 15-18 to get vaccination. By this way, we can increase our immunity to fight the third wave of the virus.

Ritu Priya

Councillors should spread awareness

Omicron-led third wave is knocking at India’s doorstep. In Ludhiana, there is an increase in the number of positive cases of the virus. Various restrictions have been imposed to control the spread of the disease. Still, all norms are not followed by the public for one reason or the other. Local governments should assign duties to councillors to take care of their respective wards by spreading awareness among people. At each street, one person may be appointed to check unnecessary movement of people. Violators must be dealt strictly. The government should impose night curfew and strength in all offices should be limited to half of the total number. Duties should be assigned on a rotation basis. Everybody must follow the directions of the government and cooperate to control the spread of the virus.

Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Collective efforts needed

The third wave of Covid-19 is imminent, rather it has started showing its signs as worldwide daily cases are on the rise. Firstly, we all need to realise the fact that we have to learn to live with the pandemic. But this doesn’t mean that Covid-appropriate behaviour should go for a toss. A proper road map comprising detection of the disease, vaccination as well as following the Covid guidelines is a must. Though it is the primary duty of the government to safeguard the lives of citizens, the residents too have a moral duty of following all government guidelines. Only collective efforts of the government, enforcement agencies and people can help us tackle the situation. Hope, the third wave will abate soon.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Take strict measures to contain virus

Covid-19 pandemic has again started spreading in Punjab. The rapidly spreading highly infectious Omicron variant has left public health experts worried. The spike in cases has been attributed to an increase in poll-related activities with political parties and people not following the Covid-appropriate behaviour. Norms such as social distancing and wearing masks are thrown to the wind. Laxity at this hour can prove fatal. The public should follow all Covid safety guidelines. Necessary action under the National Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Diseases Act should be initiated by the district administration. Home isolation guidelines must be followed properly. Strict control measures such as vaccination, proper sanitisation of surface areas, avoiding unnecessary travel and outings, washing hands frequently and free testing should be taken. Any laxity at any stage can lead to faster spread of the virus.

Jasdeep Kaur

Follow guidelines religiously

Though Covid cases are increasing, residents of Ludhiana are non-serious about safety precautions. The surge is an indication of the third wave. Taking stock of the situation, the Punjab Government has imposed night curfew and other restrictions in the state. All people should follow the guidelines religiously. Covid-appropriate behaviour is important. Avoid crowded places. Parents should get their eligible children vaccinated. Adults who are not fully jabbed should also get themselves vaccinated. People above 60 having any co-morbidity must also get a booster dose, once the health authorities start administering the same.

Sunil Chopra

Expedite vaccination process

A sudden spike in daily Covid cases has given rise to a new possibility of third wave in the city. Ludhiana had remained one of the worst-hit districts during the second wave. But now, Omicron has arrived in the country and it is active in almost every state. Moreover, it has created fear among people. Many people lost their lives during the second wave. To avert such a situation, we have to take precautions seriously. Entry on public transport should be banned for non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated people and strict disciplinary action must be taken against people who not wearing mask. Schools must be shut down if odd and even system is not possible. There must be a limit on public gatherings and the most important thing is that, vaccination should be done at a faster rate. There should be vaccination camps at government offices, schools, private offices and also in wards of the city. Such steps must be taken seriously otherwise it will cause huge destruction of lives.

Gurnoor Kaushal

Large-scale vaccination needed

The third wave of Covid has already started in the country with the appearance of a new variant of coronavirus called Omicron. The new variant is known to be more infectious, though less dangerous for the life of the infected. The country must be more active in controlling the third wave of the Covid pandemic. There are two main ways to control the same. The first is large-scale vaccination of all citizens. Vaccination of children in the age group of 15 to 18 years old has already started in the country. In the second way, masses must be taught to strictly follow pandemic-control measures. These measures include staying inside homes, use of mask while going out and following social distancing norms while attending events. The government must make all citizens follow these steps strictly. Defaulters must be punished. The police can ensure that every individual is using a mask while going out and people are following all Covid guidelines at social gatherings. People must learn to use the mask properly while going out and avoid social gatherings in public places. The local administrative bodies concerned must hold various programmes with the help of radio, TV and social media on a daily basis for spreading awareness regarding following of Covid protocols.”

Gautam Dev

Impose one-month lockdown

The danger of Omicron variant is looming large. The Ludhiana administration should ensure that all people must follow Covid protocols. Those who violate the guidelines should be given strict punishment under law. The administration should imposed complete lockdown for one month to control the situation. If the government imposes complete lockdown, it should take special care of daily wagers. They should be provided monetary help. If we don’t take the Omicron variant seriously, the situation will get worse. Hence, strict complete lockdown is only option to control the third wave of coronavirus. If we ignore the dreaded virus, it will spread fast among people in the country.

Adish Sood

Make violators pay heavy fine

It is rightly said that prevention is better than cure. The previous waves of the deadly virus have affected the city badly. Hence, strict measures need to be implemented before the situation becomes worse. The government should impose complete lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. Also, heavy fines should be imposed on violators. At an individual level, it is our responsibility and duty to protect ourselves and other citizens of the country. Hence, wearing mask properly, frequent hand sanitisation and social distancing are necessary. Getting oneself vaccinated is of utmost priority.

Harleen Kaur

Learn from past mistakes

The recent spurt in Covid cases in the country indicates that a third Covid wave is knocking at the door. Timely intervention and treatment can check the spread of Covid. A stitch in time saves nine, hence, top priority of the government should be to administer precautionary doses of vaccines to health staff, frontline workers and senior citizens. The vaccination of the 15-18 age group of children should be another priority. Covid-appropriate behaviour should be strictly followed and violators be given exemplary punishment. It’s wrong to think that we have won the war against Covid. It’s foolish to let the guard down. Lessons should be learnt from mistakes made during the second wave. Health officials should respond with big efforts. The Deputy Commissioner should review the availability of oxygen and other necessary medical equipment and also alert the public and the officials concerned to be ready for the third wave. Strict measures should be taken at public places such as malls, gyms, palaces, religious places and bus stands. As the new Omicron variant is spreading rapidly, vigil should be maintained on coming international travellers and it should be mandatory for the latter to stay in isolation for 10 days.

RS Sembhi

Spread the word among family, friends

In the present situation, it is normal to feel sad, worried, confused, scared or angry. Know that you are not alone and talk to someone you trust, like your parents or teacher. Hence, you can help keep yourself and your school safe and healthy. Ask questions, educate yourself and get information from reliable sources. Protect yourself and others by taking Covid-prevention measures. We should be a leader in keeping ourself, our school, family and community healthy. Share what you learn about preventing the disease with your family and friends. Don’t stigmatise or tease anyone about being sick. Remember that the virus doesn’t infect people based on geographical boundaries, ethnicities, age or ability or gender. Hence, stay home and stay safe.

Varun Chauhan

Ban poll rallies, public meetings

As the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, is spreading all over the country, it becomes the responsibility of the government as well as citizens to check its spread. The local administration should strictly enforce Covid protocols and the public must also follow the guidelines. At the same time, those who are not yet vaccinated should shed all inhibitions and get themselves jabbed. All election rallies, public meetings, protests and processions should be prohibited.

Ashwani Kumar Malhotra

Covid-appropriate behaviour crucial

The dreaded Covid has again risen exponentially in Ludhiana district with the count of daily and active virus cases spreading fast. The administration has confirmed that the sudden surge of Covid cases could be attributed to the possibility of third wave or spread of the new Omicron variant. We can follow safety guidelines to stop the impending third wave knocking at our doors. Firstly, the need of the hour is to wear mask always. The saddest part is that the majority of the people are seen not adhering to mandatory Covid-safety protocols. They brazenly ignore social distancing norms and roam without masks. Vaccination may definitely help boost one’s immunity but mask and Covid-appropriate behaviour are the most important steps, at least for now. Secondly, the government should instal sanitiser dispensers at public places such as malls, cinema halls, restaurants and hotels. We should also use Covid-safety applications to get the latest news updates by issued by the government. Children should be allowed to play in the open but with all safety precautions. Those who are not taking precautions are a threat to other citizens. They should be heavily fined and those people who have not taken the second dose of the vaccine must be told to get themselves fully vaccinated at the earliest.

Jasmine Arora

Residents should make efforts to fight covid

As the Covid-19 situation is getting worse day by day it is necessary to keep a proper check on the situation. Two heads from each ward should be selected. They should keep a check on ward members and their vaccination status. They should also keep a check on cleanliness in the area. The police should be strict against violations. Vaccination camps should be held. If the government imposes lockdown, it should take special care of daily wagers and provide food to the poor and homeless. There should be proper checks in slum areas to see whether people are following Covid protocols or not.

Khushboo khosla

Prevention is better than cure

Number of people getting infected with Covid is increasing with each passing day. With an increase in the positivity rate, people should really start taking the disease seriously. The situation might get worse due to the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. Hence, following Covid safety norms is the only way to prevent the spread of the virus in the near future. Police should take strict action against people holding mass gatherings and rallies. Wearing mask is the easiest way to prevent the infection. Avoid going out unnecessarily and everybody should carry sanitiser with them. Take all necessary precautions before it’s too late.

Akanksha Attri

QUESTION

With daily and active cases, positivity rate and hospitalisation of Covid patients breaching the record of the past six to eight months in Ludhiana district, following which night curfew is already in place, should the current situation, which is turning grim by each passing day, demands more stricter restrictions like lockdown?

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