Canacona: In response to the call given by some section of the civil society to shut market and shops in the taluka for four days in wake of finding 3 COVID-19 positive patients, the taluka responded with 100% lockdown on the first day.
Concerned citizens from the civil society from the taluka had appealed for a total lockdown of the market starting from Thursday till Sunday as a precautionary measure.
The shopkeepers and vendors responded by keeping the shutters of their business premises on Thursday. The commercial town of Chawdi which otherwise hustles and bustles every day since early morning wore a deserted look for most part of the day.
Essential services like medical stores, clinics and a cooking gas dealer was found open.
Apart from that the only exception was the Bagyatdar Bazar at Chaudi which opened on its usual time. A police squad was seen posted during the entire day in front of the store to avoid any one coercing the staff of the store to close down.
Police also patrolled the entire taluka to avoid any untoward incident due to enforcement of the voluntary lockdown.
Further, sources said all of the 28 swab samples of the persons, who supposedly came in contact with the three COVID positive persons, came back negative.
Canacona MLA and Deputy Speaker Isidore Fernandes said that he is against forcing the public to lockdown themselves and it is for the medical experts to decide on enforcing lockdown and the duration required in order to get the desired results.
“We have seen how much the public suffered during the earlier lockdowns, and I am of the firm opinion that such issues are best left for the experts to decide if the lockdown is required and if so for how many days” Fernandes expressed.
“The world has to learn to live avoiding coronavirus till a vaccine is found. As advised by the experts, wear masks, keep social distance, regularly wash hands/face and avoid crowded places and unnecessary travel. This is the new normal we have to practice at all times to be safe,” said Fernandes.
