BHUBANESWAR: Despite the unprecedented rise in Covid-19 cases in the state, people are often found without wearing masks or flouting the social distance rule when outside. Though there was strict enforcement of preventive measures for a few days following the sudden spike in cases, people have now become careless.
“When I asked a vegetable vendor in Unit-1 market as to why was he without a mask, he turned furious and said he didn’t have have money for it,” Bidulata Nanda, a housewife, said. She added that though she pleaded with him saying that he was not just putting his life at risk, but also those of others around, he paid no need to her.
Chief minister on Thursday reiterated his request to the people of
Odisha to wear masks in public places. He said, “The mask is the most important weapon for our safety in the current
Covid situation. This will keep us and our families safe from Covid-19. Do not forget to wear a mask. Let’s fight Covid without lockdown.”
Meanwhile, Odisha saw 2,989 fresh cases, which is a jump of 722 cases from Wednesday’s infection count. Despite the restrictions imposed on the visit of people to temples on the occasion of Maha Bishuba Sankranti and Hanuman Jayanti, police conducted raids at several shrines in the city, prosecuted 945 violators and collected Rs 1,06,450 in fines on Wednesday.
“It’s been more than a year since Covid struck, but most people still don’t know how to wear a mask. Either their nose juts out of it or their mouth. This is not going to help check Covid-19 and will force the government to take drastic steps like another lockdown,” warned Dr P C Das, a general physician.
He added that given the alarming proportions in which Covid is rising, there is no other waybut to strictly follow the safety protocols like wearing masks, avoiding large gatherings and washing hands frequently.