Goa is on the boil once again. Four new cases of Omicron have been detected and a whopping 631 Covid cases registered on Monday. There is a quantum jump in the positivity rate to 26.24 per cent, with the total count of cases moving rapidly to 2,240. It is now increasingly clear that the State is beginning to pay the price for the uncontrolled December month-end revelry leading to the New Year.
Pictures of Goa's wild celebrations and partying towards the end of December has left the rest of the country in shock and disbelief. It was a time when many other States were busy working on strategies to counter the spread. The streets of Calangute and Baga, the venue of Sunburn at Vagator and the beaches resembled Carnival crowds of Rio de Janeiro with tourists indulging in uncontrolled partying. All protocols, social distancing and 50 per cent capacity restrictions fell on deaf ears with the police failing miserably to contain the overwhelming crowds.After the meeting of the expert committee, the task force has on Monday recommended night curfew in the State, while also proposing the online route once again for schools and colleges. The question is whether these measures can contain the spread? Let’s not forget Goa could again end up paying a heavy price because the rate of transmission of Omicron is learnt to be much higher than the infection seen during the second wave.
States have brought in various levels of restrictions to contain transmission. In Maharashtra, the Mumbai police have prohibited people from visiting beaches, open grounds, gardens parks and similar public places between 5 pm and 5 am daily. There are restrictions of 50 attendees for marriages and social functions, while only 20 individuals are allowed for funerals. The West Bengal government has allowed offices, trains, malls, market places, cinema halls and offices to operate at 50 per cent capacity. Delhi has enforced a yellow alert. States like Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Telangana too have imposed strict curbs on movement.
Surprisingly, the Goa government which has initially indicated that it will act depending on the positivity rate continues to show reluctance despite the positivity rate zooming over 26 per cent. Against the backdrop of the frenzy seen during the past ten days and the fear of a looming third wave, the government should have acted promptly. We don’t understand the logic behind the delay in taking action.
Moreover, night curfews are ineffective in Goa, especially when there is no serious enforcement by police. Parties have happened along the north coastline even during the lockdown. The decline seen towards the end of the second wave was because the virus was on the wane, not because of the night curfew. There has to be an immediate cap on parties, social events and public gatherings and there has to be a tighter vigil on the borders. Half-hearted measures aimed to insulate political campaigns will defeat the purpose.
