‘Enforce strict compliance of social distancing norms or a lockdown’

Ludhiana: As the number of cases of Covid-19 are witnessing an increase in Ludhiana district, many social media users are suggesting various measures, including imposition of curfew for sometime, on the official Facebook page of the district administration. According to the latest state media bulletin, Ludhiana district has witnessed 735 new cases and 22 deaths in the last seven days.
One of the netizens, Mohan Swaroop, wrote on district public relations office page, which is used by deputy commissioner to hold Facebook Live, “Sir, please enforce lockdown in Ludhiana for 10 days minimum — because cases increasing day by day — so corona chain can be broken”.
Another netizen Pankaj Sood wrote, “Please enforce curfew and lockdown in Ludhiana for 15 days. It’s required. Cases are growing day by day.”
Another netizen Nitin Thapar wrote “Sir, please think about enforcing a curfew for at least 15 days, it is need of the hour. Sir, wealth is not important then health”.
Another netizen complained that people are not wearing masks in public. “Please increase the fine for mask violators to Rs 5,000, Rs 500 seems like nothing for many people and frequently people are not wearing masks. And make it mandatory to wear at least a surgical mask, cloth or cotton is of zero use for Covid-19 virus,” wrote Vikas Arora.
Another netizen wrote about lack of strictness on weekend curfews. Amit Kumar Sharma said the authorities should make sure that shops do not open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Netizens are also writing on the Ludhiana police page. Naval Kishore Kaura wrote: “The police must act tough on various eateries flouting the law by being open even after 9pm. Wonder what is preventing police from acting tough. Perhaps, the preparation of these eateries is too good to refuse for the area officials concerned.”
Baaldeep Bakshi, while reacting to a post on “Covid-19 affects different people in different ways” by Ludhiana police on it’s Facebook page, wrote in Hindi asking administration to keep the public in the loop about its various measures.
Meanwhile, social activists said in the current scenario, when cases are witnessing such a rise, administration should either enforce norms strictly or should impose lockdown for more than a week.
“The spurt in cases is alarming and we have lost many persons in the last few days. The only solution to check such jump in cases and deaths is to either impose lockdown or enforce norms related to Covid including being strict with those violating norms by not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing,” said Keemti Rawal, a social activist who lost his brother in law to disease recently.