Lockdown is not a solution says PMC Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad

Pune: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said lockdown is not a solution to fight against coronavirus. "We are fighting an enemy that is invisible and which can infect anyone, so we have to learn to live with it," Gaikwad said.

The COVID-19 cases count has already crossed the 20000 mark in the district, of which most the cases are from Pune city area. Commissioner Gaikwad has taken several measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in the city. 

While the list of containment zones is being revised every week and the number of tests conducted every day has increased considerably. 

After the lockdown relaxations were implemented, the number of cases reported from non-containment zones have increased more as compared to that from the demarcated containment zones. While other districts and cities have gone for a complete lockdown for another 10 to 15 days in July, PMC Commissioner Gaikwad's statement on lockdown is a welcome move for Punekars.

Commissioner Gaikwad was addressing a small gathering at the Shree Omkareshwar Devasthan. Social activists involved in distributing food packets to the needy and poor during the lockdown were felicitated at the hands of Gaikwad. 

Member of Parliament and President of the Devasthan Girish Bapat, Police Commissioner K Venkatesham, Chief Trustee of the Devasthan Dhanottam Lonkar and others were present on the occasion.

Gaikwad also warned that the coronavirus infection would accelerate along with other diseases as the monsoon season has begun. 

"We have to continue our fight day and night against this invisible enemy. Lockdown is not a solution to this problem. We have to learn to live with the virus," Gaikwad stated. 

Bapat said, "We have provided food packets to more than 10 thousand people during the lockdown. The MP funds were also used to help needy and poor people. Even the police, municipal corporation, Omkareshwar Devasthan and organisations like Ninad came forward to help people in distress during the COVID-crisis. Many social activists made this possible and their felicitation is an attempt to recognise their efforts in this fight."