The trickle of good news in the atmosphere of the lockdown, had brought hope of a change. Not only had test reports of suspected COVID-19 patients, who had been qarantined in the State come negative, two of those who had tested positive for the virus had been now found to be negative. It was after this that came the news of a new case of a person who had travelled from Africa.
Halfway through the 21-day lockdown – there are still another ten days to go – Goa was reaching towards becoming a safe zone, but is not there yet. So far Goans have acted very responsibly going out only in search of their necessities, or when it is actually required. There may have been some sporadic cases of youth ‘loitering’, and that has to be dealt with. A new case has been detected, that of a man who has returned from abroad, and a lot depends entirely on no more new positive cases in the State. And for that the lockdown must be taken seriously and followed, for the entire 21-day period.
Currently in Goa, essentials of milk, vegetables are available for sale, groceries stores are open, nationalised banks are offering limited services, pharmacies and hospitals are open. All other businesses are closed and educational institutions are shut, leading to few people out on the streets. That has decreased the spread of the Coronavirus. But, is should not happen that at the end of the lockdown period all businesses and offices are quickly thrown open as it will lead to crowds of people on the streets and in public transport vehicles where social distancing will just not be possible. States, including Goa, cannot return to their old ways on an immediate basis, as there are theories that there could be a second wave of the virus occurring.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his video conference with State Chief Ministers on Wednesday, made it plain that the Centre and States must have a common plan to ensure the staggered movement of people after the national lockdown ends. The PM was clear that after the lockdown it ‘can’t be business as usual’ and that certain safeguards would have to be taken. The seriousness, by which the lockdown has been taken so far by the people, has to be displayed even later, or all the gains of this period will be lost. As Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said, Goa can look at some relaxations but with borders still closed. The last is important as the neighbouring States have a number of COVID-19 cases and opening the borders is a risk.
Even after the lockdown is lifted, borders have to remain shut for a certain period and social distancing has to be continued with, as this is the only way by which the people can still stay safe. Social distancing has been proved to work in other countries. The comparison of two US States is stark. In New York where there was no lockdown COVID-19 has grown exponentially, while in California that imposed a lockdown quite early in the outbreak the spread has been relatively contained. These are irrefutable examples of how social distancing and lockdowns can help in combating the spread of COVID-19.
Social distancing, a new term that has quickly gained acceptance, has to be taken seriously. It will perhaps even change the way society conducts itself in the future. One aspect is certain, the Coronovirus pandemic cannot be taken lightly even after the lockdown is lifted. It is a grave matter to be dealt with equal amounts of seriousness.
