Lockdown no solution; building awareness key to prevent corona, affirms senior citizens

July 23: Following marathon discussions with people’s representatives, senior citizens and other segments of the society, it was unanimously decided that Cachar district is not going for total lockdown arising out of the COVID-19 situation.

Convening a meeting with MP, MLAs, senior citizens, merchants’ associations and other sections of society, the district administration elicited their opinions as to whether the administration must enforce total lockdown or not in view of spike in number of COVID-19 positive cases, majority of the participants said a ‘Big No’ based on the fact that lockdown is not a solution to arrest the spread of COVID-19 and only wearing of masks, social distancing and personal hygiene are the panacea for containing the disease.

Most of them opined that the guidelines of the government have to be strictly enforced and fines imposed to overcome the corona crisis. Some also suggested stricter enforcement of guidelines to contain the disease from spreading further. They suggested that focus should be on the market areas and in rural areas and in minimising gathering to prevent contamination.

The senior citizens felt that lockdown would bring no solution as one has to live with the disease for sometime with no vaccine in sight and awareness campaigns have to be build up in a massive way to contain the disease. They suggested involvement of ASHAs, teachers and NGOs in generating awareness among the masses in both rural and urban areas.

Majority felt that enforcing total lockdown would hit the common man, petty traders and daily wage earners hard and would put a spanner in the wheels of economic progress. Citing cases of Maharashtra, Delhi and other metropolis, majority citizens opined that despite repeated lockdowns, the number of corona cases have been on the upswing.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Keerthi Jalli while explaining the purpose of convening the meeting, said the administration is well placed and equipped in terms of health infrastructure and health personnel to tackle the COVID-19 situation. Jalli said that the administration has taken up a slew of measures for treatment of asymptomatic and symptomatic cases in COVID Care Centres and in SMCH, quarantining of persons under facility quarantine centres and under home isolation, besides screening of persons coming from outside at ISBT and Kumbhirgram Airport. The Deputy Commissioner revealed that scores of containment zones have been created to arrest the further spread of the disease.

She underscored the need for community driven action to prevent the spread of the virus and urged the senior citizens, who are the voice of the society, to use their influence to make people aware of the utmost necessity to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines to overcome the situation.

MP, Silchar, Dr.Rajdeep Roy said the administration has been able to do contact tracing of persons without travel history. The MP suggested for enforcement of strong measures in the containment zones as a better option than going in for total lockdown. MLAs of Lakhipur, Katigorah, Silchar, Borkhola and Uddarbond also suggested stricter implementation of COVID-19 protocols instead of total lockdown.

Renowned Oncologist, Padmashri Dr Ravi Kumar Kannan underscored the need for slowing down the rate of COVID positive cases and for regular use of masks, social distancing and personal hygiene. Dr.Kannan dispelled some misconceptions on corona being spread through fruits and vegetables and said the virus cannot thrive in dead cells. He also emphasised on educating the masses on the dos and donts related to the virus and generating awareness in a big way.

Addressing the elite gathering, Superintendent of Police, Banwarilal Meena said a sense of responsibility has to grow among the people at large and civil society has to play a pivotal role in building awareness to contain the coronavirus. The SP informed the participants that the police will take tough action against traders not adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines. District Development Commissioner, Jessica Lalsim, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Rajib Roy and Sumit Sattawan were also present.