With over 60,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day, the State government had little option other than to step up the restrictions to an entirely new level. Practically the measures it has taken come close to a lockdown, but allows all essential services to continue functioning during the day. The most significant part is that Maharashtra has stopped people from moving out in public for unnecessary reasons. This itself would substantially reduce contact between people and help bring down the infection rate considerably. Further, by making public transport available only for essential services and essential travel, the number of people on the roads will be less.
Maharashtra, now swamped by the virus, has taken steps in the right direction, but the second wave of the COVID-19 infection has also engulfed the nation, with over 2,00,739 new cases in a single day in the country. Delhi too has imposed a weekend curfew. In comparison to sheer numbers, Goa with between 450 and 550 cases a day is relatively safe, but when set against the total population this figure does work out to be a big number. For instance, over four per cent of the entire population has already been infected by the virus. But no, there are no plans for a lockdown in Goa. Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also backed him on refraining from imposing a lockdown, and explained that in a small State like Goa, achieving targets in terms of vaccination is entirely possible.
Recall that last year in May, when the cases had begun increasing, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had then said that ‘Goa cannot remain insulated from the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country’. In the following weeks the number of cases in Goa had increased. Similarly, while Goa now refrains from any stringent measures, it has to focus on following all other standard operating procedures, and also increase testing and vaccination, as that same statement of not remaining insulated holds true even today.
A reason why the State is refraining from imposing a lockdown at this point of time is that economic activities, especially in the tourism industry, will come to a grinding halt. When seen at how Maharashtra has imposed restrictions, it has listed out what activities can take place during the coming fortnight, and tourism or entertainment is not one of them. As per CM Sawant, should the State go into a lockdown people will suffer economically as a result, and hence his assertion that “Our economic activities cannot stop. Lockdown is not the solution.” With strict restrictions imposed in other States, Goa is going to face some economic fallout in some manner or the other. For instance, the number of tourists in the State is already low as the home States of the visitors have imposed restrictions and people hesitate to travel outside the State for fear of facing hurdles on their return.
Since it is economic reasons that are determining the imposition of the lockdown, the onus is now upon the people to take precautionary measures to avoid infection. Very interestingly, the Chief Minister has asked the local populace to keep safe distance from tourists who come in large groups. How would that work for those in the tourism industry who are serving the needs of the tourists? They have to interact at close quarters with the visitors. Seeking permission to get the workforce of the hospitality industry vaccinated may partly be the whole solution, but there have to be additional safeguards to the employees as they are the ones who will be risking their health as they go about the duties.
