Don't take this lull for granted

| NOVEMBER 24, 2020, 12:00 AM IST

What if a second wave of Covid hits Goa? Reports of a looming harsher spell of infection have been doing the rounds across India even as nations like the United Kingdom, Spain and others have gone into selective lockdowns. Medical experts across the world have been calling for extreme caution, advising people to follow protocols strictly and avoid complacency.

On Monday, the national Covid statistics showed 45,209 new infections and 501 fatalities. According to the recent figures, Maharashtra reported single day infections of 5,753 with 50 deaths while Karnataka had 1,704 positive cases and 13 deaths. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu reported 1121 and 1655 positive cases respectively. 

Against this backdrop and mounting concern, Maharashtra has tweaked its SOPs for inbound traffic from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa. Travellers from these states will have to produce a time-specific valid Covid-negative report. Passengers not armed with a negative certificate will be screened, and those showing symptoms will be told to undergo antigen test. Travellers testing positive will be sent to Covid Care Centres. The SOPs come a day after Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray warned his people that if safety guidelines are not followed, a second wave of COVID-19 could hit like a tsunami.

The Goa government has indicated that it will follow the Maharashtra SOPs for inbound traffic. While we wait for new guidelines to be issued, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced a doubling of fine (now Rs 200) for those not wearing face masks. Enforcing discipline is crucial in the current situation, but more importantly, people need to be constantly reminded not to lower guard. Allowing crowded political meetings and turning a blind eye to leaders who ignore masks and address mass gatherings paint a bleak picture. Leaders are taking their eyes off the Covid grid, and political interests are taking centre stage. The system is taken for granted.

Goa has seen the Covid pain easing off considerably in the past few weeks. The Monday's bulletin showed no casualties, and the Sunday's update showed infections dropping to 78. There are days where we had no Covid-related deaths registered. These are undoubtedly good signs for a state which has been battered by Covid for over seven months sending the health ministry and the frontline warriors into a tizzy.

The festive season has set in, and with tourism already been ushered in all its dreadful avatars, the State has witnessed a flurry of desi tourists flocking in from States which continue to face the Covid onslaught. At this point, Goa has become more of a haven and a perfect getaway. The serpentine queues of traffic along the Zuari bridge and the vehicular chaos in the capital city and along the highways indicate that Goa is carelessly taking chances with Covid.

The Goa government should have been more worried and quickly implemented SOPs like Maharashtra because the bulk of our visitors are from the neighbouring states. Goa shouldn't misread this lull but exercise extreme caution.

Share this