Complacency can prove fatal, intensify awareness campaigns

Open House: What measures govt should take to curb second surge?

Although we are witnessing a downward trend in the cases, yet complacency can prove fatal. We haven’t got rid of the virus completely. Continuing with the basic precautions to stall off the virus is the need of the hour. Social distancing and face masks are extremely helpful. The government must make the use of the mask mandatory and the offenders must be punished on the spot. The face mask is the second best option until a vaccine is available. People should be warned about their complacency through different campaigns and awareness camps. All bustling parts of the state must be sanitised and made immaculate frequently. Use of firecrackers on the coming Diwali can be banned too as its smoke is deadly for the Covid patients. Public should understand that protection from the virus is the responsibility of one and all. The English proverb ‘Everybody’s responsibility is nobody’s responsibility’ must not be followed in these times. The Health Department staff must be helped in all possible ways as they are the frontline workers. There shouldn’t be any room for complacency in the festive and winter season ahead.

Anil Sharma

QUESTION

Air pollution has already witnessed a spike in the state due to stubble burning. What steps should be taken to keep pollution levels in check during festival season?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (November 5).

‘Intensify awareness programmes’

People at large are gearing up for the festive season, planning reunions, going on shopping spree and eating at their favourite restaurants as before the pandemic. But there is no guarantee that things will be back to normal as experts have warned of another Covid wave if proper precautions are not taken. Actually the reports of substantial increase in recovery rates have instilled a false sense of security in the general public. A feeling of complacency has set in due to the number of positive cases going down considerably. Also people seem to be fed up with an element of pandemic fatigue, tired of staying indoors. Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing have devastatingly impacted their nerves. Hence, they are out under the illusion that virus has vanished. This thinking along the line has the potential of playing havoc with the prospective victims of the impending second wave. From a period of the strict lockdown they have come to a stage of sheer recklessness because of which Punjab is likely to witness a resurgence of cases as of USA and Europe. Hence, the government must persevere with strenuous efforts of social distancing, wearing of masks and practising frequent hand washing. These three are the golden rules. If the government does not prepare properly and adequately, there is the lurking fear that the healthcare infrastructure may collapse completely without any warning making things go haywire. The onset of winter could lead to a spurt in the Covid cases as respiratory viruses thrive profusely and better in cold conditions. Therefore, the government ought to be extra vigilant in following the standard protocols. Public awareness programmes should be intensified. People’s cooperation should be solicited. Strategic testing, contact tracing through apps, effective public communication, involvement of citizens and taking care of all the aspects of the adverse impact of the pandemic on society should be pursued vigorously and calculated efforts should be footed without any laxity.

Tarsem S Bumrah

Keep your guard up with the mask

The Punjab Government does not heed the current scenario. It is busy in pulling out the legs of other leaders. They do not have any idea what is going around. In fact, now the people are not expecting anything from the government. People are smart enough to understand the incumbent situation, but sometimes they resort to reckless behaviour like not wearing masks in public. This should not happen. Festivals are in sight and markets are packed with masses because festivals like Karwachauth, Diwali are on the way. There is nothing wrong going to the market with precautions. One should always wear mask outside.

Saahil Hans

No complacency, People following measures

Keeping in view the fear of second wave, it is wrong to presume that people are developing complacency during festival season. Ten days of Navratri are proof of it. Even your newspaper reported ‘Dasehra festival a low-key affair’. People on their part are cautious of ill-effects of the virus; it is for central and state governments to stop pushing the panic button and taking practical steps to uplift the declining economy. They should be equally concerned with the public gathering at protest sites and election rallies as with the gatherings at social and religious functions. Just watch the election rallies of different political parties, addressed by top leadership during the ongoing election campaign in Bihar. Our politicians are throwing to winds all norms of distancing during their rallies. They should practise what they preach. It’s been more than a month since farmers of our state have been agitating the agri Bills. Instead of fighting a political battle on this issue all political parties should sit together to solve it and avoid public gatherings at protest sites. On one hand not more than 100 persons are allowed in a social gathering and on the other hand hundreds of farmers are protesting at a single site. Though we should take all the precautions to avoid spread, yet media should dispel the panic created by the Centre. Due to this, the central government took an easy route to enforce farm laws. Without issuing ordinances they could have directly brought in the farm laws in the Parliament. It is high time for central and state governments to give a push to the declining economy instead of creating panic and fearful atmosphere of the virus.

Harsh N Johar

State must learn from past complacency

The onerous task done initially by the Punjab government to curb the spread of is quite commendable. Even the people stood by the current regime at dispensation and abided by and adhered to the timely instructions. Consequently, Punjab’s share in covid-19 cases was quite low. But since the time Union government initiated the process of unlocking, the state machinery also followed the bandwagon without giving a second thought oblivious of the fact that the cases started rising in Punjab by that time. So the point to be noted down, is throwing caution to the wind and developing complacency have proved to be extremely detrimental for the health and hygiene of all and sundry. The AQI in Punjab and its surrounding area is rising by the day, which again is not a good sign as people commonly suffer from cold and cough in the winters. The contagion being an air-borne disease can spread its tentacles in the cold season. The European countries have already been under the spell of this deadly pandemic and have adopted even stricter and more deterrent steps for the safety of their citizens. Both the central and state governments must take a leaf of wisdom not only from their own past experience, but also from the Westerners to prevent their people from falling prey. The State should issue an advisory and start implanting the stern measure to safeguard its people the way it did in the beginning. There is no need to open all the commercial sectors in one go. The human resource is the biggest repository and it must not be put to risk at any cost. As an adage goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’ and this is the best time to exercise and implement it for our own welfare.

Simranjeet Singh Saini

Strict adherence to rules only way out

Punjab Government should not open schools as the attendance is very low and schools can become a hotspot for transmission. People have become very complacent not knowing that the second wave has already hit Europe. A casual stroll in the market will reveal the careless attitude of some people towards the pandemic. The guidelines issued by global organisations such as WHO are for own safety and there is no harm in following them. Strict adherence to rules by all stakeholders is the best way to deal with the Covid-19.

Jatinderpal Singh