Leading citizens says ‘Big No’ to lockdown; solution lies in creating awareness on COVID-19

August 11: To elicit the views of people from every strata of society whether to go in for total lockdown or not following rise in number of COVID-19 positive cases, the Cachar district administration held a meeting with leading citizens at Banga Bhawan here on Tuesday. All the participants opined that lockdown is no solution and creating awareness holds the key to containing the disease. They pointed out that lockdown would not help in containing the disease and would increase the hardships of the common man.

All the participants suggested intensification of tests under RAT and isolation of the corona afflicted persons.
Some participants requested the administration to allow functioning of the private nursing homes and private practice by doctors as some fear to move to COVID Care Centres and hospitals in view of the present pandemic situation. Reposing faith and confidence in the administration in terms of its preparedness and response, all the participants said no to the lockdown.

They asked the administration to strictly enforce wearing of masks, to step up awareness drive in a big way in market places and in rural areas and to increase the number of COVID-19 testing and screening centres. Some also suggested for increasing the bed strength in the ICU of SMC&H. They requested the administration to keep a tab on the prices so that no unscrupulous traders can reap the benefits at the expense of the poor and downtrodden segments of the society.

Initiating the discussions, Deputy Commissioner, Keerthi Jalli said the meeting with the senior citizens have been organised to elicit their opinions whether they want lockdown or down in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the district. Jalli spelt out the series of initiatives taken by the administration to contain the disease. Jalli said the administration has stepped up tests under RAT with 2,620 tests conducted in a single day on Monday. The focus of the administration is to quickly identify the positive cases and to put them under isolation to arrest the spread of the disease.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the senior citizens as they are the voice of the people to convey to the people about the pressing need to go in for swab testing under RAT to contain the further spread of the disease in the community. “It is of paramount importance for the people to come forward voluntarily and get their swab tested in the greater interest of the society,” she quipped.

Jalli said the administration is not averse to asymptomatic corona patients going in for home isolation, but they have to adhere to all guidelines relating to home isolation. She said medical treatment at initial stage of the disease can be defeated but moving to hospitals at advanced stage is fraught with serious consequences even leading to death.

Jalli said the administration is focusing on carrying out swab test under RAT in market places, tea gardens and in municipality wards. “Early detection of corona cases and immediate isolation of the victims holds the key to containing the disease from spreading further,” she asserted. She also urged the participants to convey the message to the people about the urgent necessity to wear masks or face cover, maintain social distancing and personal hygiene to keep COVID-19 at bay. The Deputy Commissioner also pointed out that there is no fear of contamination from the dead body of a corona victim and society must accord full religious rites and respects to those who fell prey to the disease.

MLAs Dilip Kumar Paul, Kishore Nath and Amar Chand Jain underscored the need for creating more awareness on COVID-19 protocols to keep coronovirus away. Enforcing social distancing and wearing of masks are the weapons to combat the disease in the absence of vaccine, they added. MLA Paul asked the administration to keep separate provisions for aged persons afflicted with COVID-19 disease in CCCs and also in hospitals.

Speaking on the occasion, DIG (southern range) Dilip Kumar Dey urged the people not to go in for a shopping spree and to maintain social distancing and wearing of masks to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further. “Police alone cannot enforce the COVID-19 protocols. It is the bounden duty of everyone to work assiduously and conscientiously to overcome the pandemic situation,” he said.

Superintendent of Police, Banwarlal Meena, District Development Commissioner, Jessica Lalsim, Principal of SMC&H, Dr.Babul Bezbaruah, Superintendent, SMC&H, Dr.Abhijit Swami, Director, Health Services, Dr. Munindra Nath Ngatey, Joint Director, Health Services, Dr.Sudip Jyoti Das, District Media Expert, Suman Choudhury and District Surveillance Officer, Dr.Ibrahim Ali were present in the meeting.