Disgustful neglect of Covid-19 protocols
We are on the threshold of the first anniversary where steps to prevent the pandemic began with the national voluntary janata curfew which was first declared on March 22, 2020. Later the Goa Government extended it by another two days i.e. March 23 and 24 and it was continued by the national lockdown ordered by the Hon. Prime Minister from March 25 midnight for a period of 21 days with total restrictions imposed on movement of humans and goods. Subsequent extensions of lockdown announced on April 14 was stretched time and again upto May 31, 2020 under the DM Act 2005.
A year has almost gone by with certain timely relaxations of private and public gathering of weddings, funerals and conferences changing the course of our lives to a virtual world with most of us self imposing restrictions of movement as ordered by the State officials for controlling the spread of the life threatening disease by observing the SOP Protocols of wearing masks, keeping safe distance and hand sanitizing. Even schools are closed and classes are held through virtual medium for the safety of the health of our youth. The initiation of the National Vaccination programme at first to the frontline warriors and later from March 1, 2021 to all senior citizens was well accepted by the public at large although at first there was some reluctance to take the jab of one of the two variants of vaccine.
However lately there has been resurgence in Covid-19 cases in main urban areas like Panjim and Margao besides death in some rural areas due to increase in tourist flow from the neighbouring affected areas like Maharashtra, wedding receptions, and campaigning for the local, bodies of zilla panchayats, CCP and municipal elections respectively by the local MLA alongwith group of supporters leading to a disgustful neglect of Covid-19 protocols.
The Prime Minister in his recent address to the Chief Ministers of various States which included our own Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, has called upon the concerned governments to take measures to prevent the spread by testing, tracking and treating. There is an apprehension of spread of Covid-19 especially in Panjim due to huge flow of tourists from Maharashtra who gather at the landmark facade of the imposing Panjim Church without observing the SOPs, for which the Government has to adopt stringent measures to protect its citizens even though there may be Covid-19 fatigue. The respective Collectors and District Magistrates along with the Health Officials duly authorised under the DM Act must control the spread by enforcing certain restrictions and the elected representatives leading the campaigns should not be obsessed with the desire to grab power but also be aware of their responsibilities to contain the pandemic.
Rui Ferreira,
Panjim
Listen to Covid-19
Currently the vaccine drive is on for the Sr. Citizens and those with co-morbidity in the age group of 45 to 59. This is because evidence shows these groups are at risk of death or severe illnesses if they contract the virus.
Human nature never allows one to admit his frailties. All the elderly we meet insist they are fit as a fiddle, going jogging daily (they must not jog but walk), hitting the gym, dancing, gardening etc. Yes, they are fit -for their age. But the virus has shown that they are NOT as fit as the young, never mind appearances. This we must not forget, not for the sake of the virus alone.
And so, when we see the elderly standing in the bus, those actually fit, must offer their seats. Especially the young, who still party carelessly. Sadly, this habit is not there, and people tend to ‘look’ at the elderly as being fully fit reasoning out: why else are they travelling in a bus? I have seen female students getting into the bus at Borim, and then stretching to keep their bag on the seat being vacated, even though an elderly female passenger was standing adjacent to that seat!
Do we help such people to cross the street? Carry their heavy bags? This all seems to be ancient history! People who ignore these elderly standing passengers, ignore them later on in life. And so, when we see the leaders of the hotel industry in Goa, carelessly ignoring National advise for curbs on NYE 2020, thus risking all the elderly and comorbid people in Goa, you can tell they never offered a seat to an elderly or infirm standing passenger. You can now see why the Govt., despite Maharashtra going into zone lockdowns and demanding Covid negative certificates from people from Goa, does not reciprocate the same.
The culture of society has changed. Ask yourself: why? five times! Who is changing social goodness and propriety? We need to stop and correct.
R Fernandes,
Margao
COVID controls
The laxity displayed by our CM in non-enforcement of strict COVID controls for tourists and passengers arriving by road, rail and air, does not augur well for the State to be on the backfoot in containing the rampaging virus. Pan-India with mortality and infected cases outnumbering recoveries.
Even after an upsurge of positive cases and related deaths the government is more interested in opening up commercial and tourism related activities by compromising the health of the locals who have, till now, weathered the storm of the virus by strictly adhering to laid down protocols.
By giving unfettered access to the virus prone neighbouring states, the government is inviting the scourge of a second wave in line with the Pan-India rise of COVID cases.
As the clarion call given by the PM in a virtual review meeting with the CMs fearing the backlash of a second wave, our CM should have taken the message as a wake up call to restrict unhindered access of visitors to the State.
The people are also sceptical of taking the much hyped vaccine jab of Covishield and Covaxin fearing the side effects as there are no disclaimers in place of compensatory benefits to the after events following the intake of the vaccine given that even after taking the dose, the protocols as hitherto will have to be adhered to which does not make eminent sense of the efficacy of the vaccine.
Everette Assis Telles,
Margao
Zero tolerance towards rabies
It is learnt that four rabies positive cases have been detected in the state by Mission Rabies in Goa in February. The positive cases included two stray dogs from Sattari and one stray dog and a pet cat from Pernem. Contrary to belief that only dogs can pass on rabies to humans, cats too can spread the disease. The virus is present in the saliva of rabid cats, and people have developed rabies after being bitten by a rabid cat. Canines and even pet cats need to be vaccinated. It is pertinent to note that not just a bite but even a scratch from a rabid dog can pass on the infection. It is understood that though the canine population in Ponda taluka has been increasing and packs of dogs are seen on the streets on a daily basis, cases of dog bites has reportedly dropped by 45% while cases of rabies were down to zero during the lockdown and the pandemic period.
In fact Ponda has not recorded a single case of rabies from dog bites for over 26 months. It is understood that locals had been feeding street dogs during the lockdown. A hungry dog is more likely to bite a human. Children are vulnerable to dog bites. Dogs need to be left alone when they are feeding. If sick dogs are seen on the streets it should be reported to the concerned authorities immediately. We need to show zero tolerance towards rabies.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
