While danger lurks, Delhi unlocks old habits

NEW DELHI: The easing of the Covid-19 lockdown has brought much needed-relief for businesses in Delhi. Public movement has also increased.
However, doctors said it was important at this time to spread awareness about the importance of Covid appropriate behaviour, like wearing a mask and maintaining a physical distance, to prevent another surge in infections.

Consistently low positivity rates in recent days has led to the relaxation of the lockdown from Monday. Over the last 10 days, the number of positive cases among those tested, has remained below 1%, having touched 36% at April-end. On Tuesday, Delhi recorded 316 new cases at a positivity rate of 0.44% and 41 fatalities.

“A key factor for the spike in Covid cases from March onwards was the lack of adherence to Covid norms. Marriages, get-togethers and political rallies were held with little or no regard for preventive measures such as masks. We must not repeat that,” asserted Dr Shuchin Bajaj, founder and director, Ujala Cygnus group of Hospitals.
On Monday, the first day of markets and malls opening, many people were seen without a mask. Bajaj pointed out, “We have to remember that vaccination doesn’t fully protect an individual from corona infection. She or he can still bring the disease home and infect their families. We have to keep following the Covid precautions until everybody gets inoculated.”
Recalling the shudder that the resurgence of Covid sent down Delhiites’ spines, Gaurav Thukral, COO, Healthcare at Home, cautioned, “If we really don’t want to see a repeat of that nightmare, then the least we can do is to mask up properly. It’s important for our own family and the loved ones whom we don’t want to lose. The government will have to use a stick-and-carrot approach and take initiatives to change the behaviour of the public at large. South Asian nations that have been masking are examples to follow,”
In fact, Dr S K Sarin, director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, advised a “self-lockdown” for people. “They should go out only if it is really important and then strictly observe Covid-appropriate behaviour until at least 70% of the population is fully vaccinated,” he elaborated.
According to Dr Rommel Tickoo, director, internal medicine, Max Healthcare, the majority of the people don’t even wear the mask properly. A mask has to completely cover the nose and the mouth and snugly fit the face without leaving gaps, he said. Tickoo recommended strict government enforcement of masks and physical distancing in public places to prevent the spread of Covid. “Masks should be made easily available and could even be distributed to the general public on a large scale. Anyone caught not wearing a mask outside their homes should be fined and the amount doubled for every subsequent violation,” prescribed Tickoo.
Reiterating this was Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-Doc. “It is imperative that we should strictly continue with the mask up policy for at least three months,” he declared. “Punitive action against violators should continue. Any relaxation can be done after most of Delhi’s population is fully vaccinated.”