On oneside, healthcare workers, doctors and nurses are working overtime and gettinginfected, and on the other people in the name of parties, nightclubs areflouting all rules and SOPs. Social distancing is being compromised. On ferryboats and interstate buses, the social-distancing norm is not maintained. Thestate is seeing an increasing number of youngsters getting infected by thevirus. And the infected youngsters have to be treated with plasma and otherexpensive drugs. People must realise that they are violating the epidemic actwhich is in force. At a time when the state government has made violation ofnorms a compoundable offence, officials seem to be lackadaisical inimplementing the rules. Collectors, health officers and police officials shouldstrictly enforce wearing masks, maintenance of physical distance and adherenceto standard operating procedures. The state should improve testing facilities,surveillance for early detection of Covid-19 cases, contact tracing andhouse-to-house surveillance by medical staff.
