First impressions about a State or country are usually formed by visitors disembarking at the airports or train stations.
While boarding a flight recently, I was appalled to see the state of affairs at Dabolim Airport with regards to COVID-19 pandemic (un)hygiene. COVID-19 protocols mandate that the airport authorities make adequate arrangements for proper disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and masks by the arriving passengers but I was witness to many such discarded items scattered around at the deboarding ramps.
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One cannot begin to fathom the damage potential of such callous behaviour by the passengers. God forbid if even one such discarded kit came from a COVID-19 positive traveller ( we have no way of knowing since compulsory testing at all ports of entry have been done away with) , the repercussions would be frightening to say the least. Goa is slowly getting out of the grip of the virus but one small spark of carelessness shall lead to another COVID conflagration.
It is incumbent upon airline crew and concerned authorities to ensure that requisite measures are taken for rulebound discarding of such hazardous biomedical waste, also flyers need to be more circumspect about the issue.
It is their bounden duty to not indulge in such wanton behaviour, endangering a whole State. The CCTV cameras installed across the airport should be used to track down, punish and monetarily penalise such irresponsible passengers.
