Covid-19 does not compromise
One might want to believe we know everything about Covid-19 to the point that we believe our actions are fool proof. But the truth is we don’t. We must accept this.
From long term Covid conditions, to black fungus, now Mumbai shows evidence of so far 3 under 40-year-olds suffering from bone tissue death due to the steroids used in the treatment. They fear more such cases will unfold. A 35-year-old ASHA worker succumbed to Covid on June 26, despite taking both vaccine doses.
So far, in Goa, all treatments are restricted to positive Covid patients: no systems to treat long term post Covid conditions-except for black fungus which arises before the patient is discharged. Even today we see Covid deaths in GMC: why? Therefore, in our case, prevention must be the first defence. Even cured mild, home isolated cases are living with fatigue, chest/muscle pain, depression, etc, with no medical help. This is a violation of human rights.
The Expert Committee has clearly been charged by the HC as far as responsibility for the Government’s action goes. This includes opening up measures. Even during the curfew, the Anjuna Hotel committed a grave and wilful action of allowing crowd protocols to be violated. The ball is in the expert committee’s court. It is their job to charge the Government with enforcing of SOPs referring to the serious lapse of the Hotel. One such incidence is enough to trigger another wave of deaths: second wave- part II.
Everyone is tired, true: but compromising is no solution. The expert committee can form a second committee to take care of post Covid patients reporting to them.
R Fernandes, Margao
Taking decisions when pandemic prevails
The brief three-day session of our Legislative Assembly starting on the 28th of this month sets out to merely comply with the constitutional obligation. It is a blow to democracy. A well planned move to throttle voices of the Opposition. All this is a devious way of taking shelter of the current epidemic by a government that does not want to be accountable for its acts of omission and commission.
It is an irony that this government which has been holding elections of local bodies and all other functions including the mega public hearing on the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), has chosen to curtail the session in the vital temple of democracy preventing debate and discussions on many crucial issues confronting the very well being of our State. During this pandemic the government has swiftly taken so many decisions having adverse effect on the State. Land conversions, hill cutting and land filling of low lying fields is going on galore with the politically well connected land mafia having a field’s day under the guise of COVID-19.
There is no greater time than the present for elected representatives to be spending every God given hour to debate and action a myriad of changes for the benefit of the people. With the economy deteriorating, it is imperative that there should have been a proper and extensive session of the Legislative Assembly, as the fundamental job of our very handsomely paid MLAs is to debate and enact good legislations while finding efficacious solutions to the problems faced by the people.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Allow reopening of fitness centres
It must be said that one needs to be physically fit in order to fight the Corona virus. One’s immunity can be strengthened by doing physical exercise on a daily basis. It is pertinent to note that several Goans head to the gym in order to stay fit and healthy. However, due to the curfew that is in place in the State, all the gyms have been closed for the past one month. Though one can exercise at home, the training equipment available at the gym is of vital importance.
Most of the services in the State are opening up. Now even the bars and restaurants have been allowed to function. It would be desirable for the government to allow reopening of the gyms in the State by following all the pandemic protocols. The equipment in the gyms needs to be sanitised after every use. Limited members need to be allowed into the gym at any given time. It is understood that the owners of fitness centres are running into huge losses.
When the sports stadiums and saloons are allowed to reopen, even the fitness centres could be allowed to function. Non-use of the training equipment for long periods of time could make them rusty and of very little use. With the curfew, which was imposed on May 9 being extended several times, the owners of the fitness centres may have to lay off their trainers and staff if the gyms are not allowed to reopen. The government needs to look favourably into the matter and allow the gyms to reopen.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
How India fumbled in Dominica
It is hard to believe that Mehul Choksi, sensing arrest, could flee like that, from Antigua and Barbuda to Dominica. Efforts taken to deport Choksi has run into legal complications. It is clear that certain powerful elements in the Caribbean are leaking information and helping Choksi.
Our agencies have been mostly successful in getting fugitives deported, and I find no reason why Choksi cannot be brought back to India. But, having said that, we should never send sleuths to a country without being sure of whether the convict can be bought back to India. Coming back empty-handed is an embarrassing situation. The CBI and the ED should go all out to bring back the fugitive Choksi to India in order to bring back the looted money from the Banks.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
Biden’s exuberance on virus not ideal
This has reference to the report ‘Biden sees virus independence but Covid takes no holiday’ (Herald, July 5 2021). In the midst of such a depressing scenario seeing the world, it seems great to see an optimistic Joe Biden the president of America, calling for celebrations after enduring 16 months of disruption due to the pandemic and more than six lakh lives lost. . As far as vaccination is concerned, just like in our country, a large number of Americans are also avoiding the vaccine. According to the report, tens of millions of Americans have chosen not to take the life saving vaccines even though more than 200 lives are being lost to Covid on a daily basis.
At a time when new variants of Covid are already active in several parts of the world, this sort of exuberance on the party of Joe Biden could prove disastrous not only for America but for the rest of the world as well.
In our country too, a large number of people continue to think that the virus cannot affect them and so they throw all Covid norms, even basic norms, to the winds, little realising the damage they are causing to others around them. One needs to tread cautiously in the face of uncertainties.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Vaccination for miscellaneous people
The Goa government lately held a drive to vaccinate people who did not have any ID proof, vagabonds, beggars, and foreigners. This was a welcome step to curb the spread of the Covid virus. But it would be a challenge to check and monitor these people post-vaccination as to whether they suffered from any side-effects and how they recovered.
These people are now protected to a great extent from the severe effects of the virus. But there is a larger question of tracing and getting them back after 84 days for their second dose. The government could achieve this target in this onerous task by roping in volunteers and NGOs who could help in locating these people.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
