Open house: What steps should Chandigarh take to ensure strict enforcement of Covid-compliant behaviour?

Prevention is  better than cure

Big gatherings whether religious or political should be banned. Strict action is needed against violators of the Covid norms. Persons in high positions should set an example for others by following protocol like wearing face masks and maintaining distance. Follow the mantra prevention is better than cure.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma

Zero tolerance towards negligence

Tricity is witnessing spike in Covid positive cases. To overcome the situation, apart from setting up more care centres in the city, the UT Administration must enhance and streamline vaccination drive as booster dose for many senior citizens and persons with comorbidities is due from the second week of January. There must be zero tolerance towards negligence in enforcing Covid appropriate behaviour. 

RPS Chopra, Chandigarh

Health, Police depts must check violations

People should be alert and cautious about coronavirus. They should follow norms and guidelines. The Administration should educate public regarding harms of virus. No permission should be given for holding any type of rallies and fairs. Social gathering should be avoided. All offices, banks and hospitals should not attend people, who are not vaccinated. Joint teams of health and police departments should check violation of norms and impose fine on defaulters. Patients should visit hospitals only in emergency. 

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Ensure Covid guard is not compromised

The unprecedented surge in active cases suggests that we have not learnt any lessons from the first and second Covid wave. Political rallies, road shows, thanks-giving processions and other public functions are being organised sans the scantiest fear of the variant. The Administration is not taking cognizance of those wearing without masks and throwing social distancing and other norms to the winds. People flock to various hill stations caring a cuss for the grave situation. Simply by slapping Covid curbs, shutting schools, colleges and other educational institutions or allowing only vaccinated individuals to visit public places will serve no useful purpose. The UT Administration needs to ensure strictest enforcement of Covid compliant behaviour to save precious lives. Those jumping the fence must be taken to task by imposing heavy fines and awarding strictest punishment, including jail for habitual violators. The dispensation may also rope in sector welfare committees and NGOs to spread the ground message across the city.  

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

Stop people from crowding places

Covid cases are on the rise. People are ignoring safety protocol. All must wear masks and follow social distancing norm. People have to be stopped from crowding places. Work from home should be the norm. Government offices with public dealings should switch to virtual mode. People should venture out of homes only when required. We all need to work together to win over the pandemic.

Dr Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh

Prevention lies in hands of public

The government and healthcare authorities can only provide necessary resources to treat infection, but prevention lies in hands of the public. Looking at the present scenario, all must understand their responsibilities and take precautions themselves and other safe.

Charu malhotra, Mohali

Why politicians don’t follow safety norms

Total negligence of the Covid norms has catapulted Omicron variant from bottom to top. When big politicians address election rallies without wearing face mask and violate norms then how can media blame people not adhering to Covid protocol? Politicians should be questioned why they don’t adhere to norms first? 

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Kharar

Each can play a role  in preventing spread

The UT Administration should ban gathering at public places. The police should be accountable for imposing safety norms. Public places should be monitored sharply for violations. Only fully vaccinated people should be allowed to enter public places. Beneficiaries in 15-18 age group must be encouraged to get vaccinated. Though headlines have sometimes sent conflicting messages, health researchers agree that protective measures currently in place, such as stay-at-home orders, as well as the key practices well known to all, will help flatten the curve. 

Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh

UT administration late in imposing curfew 

I wonder why the Chandigarh Administration reacts later than Haryana and Punjab Governments in enforcing lockdown. With the UT taking slower or baby steps in enforcing such rules here one can well imagine how people from neighbouring states will eat, party and spread the pandemic in City Beautiful. The lake was a like a circus on the New Year eve where crowds thronged eateries and other attractions with total disregard to following safety norms. The situation is similar near the PGI, General Hospital-16 or other sectors, with no law enforcement officials taking any interest in ensuring that basic rules are complied with. 

Bhupinder Singh Virdi, Chandigarh

Start giving booster doses to beneficiaries

Covid cases are rising alarmingly . The Chandigarh Administration should start giving booster doses. Besides stepping up vaccination drive the authorities should start issuing challans for not wearing masks. Random checking at places like Apni Mandis and markets should also be started.

Sapna Sharda, Chandigarh

Aim for 100 per  cent vaccination

As we know that after New Year, there has been a steep rise in Covid cases. Tricity has been reporting more than 100 positive cases on daily basis. All must adhere to safety protocols and follow CAB (Covid appropriate behaviour). We should maintain cleanliness,  wear face mask and follow social distancing norm. Also, the authorities should aim on achieving 100% vaccination of eligible age groups. 

Sanidhya Bhaskar, Jalandhar

Booster dose impact after few weeks

For achieving quick results, the UT Administration should ensure that all people at public places wear mask properly and maintain social distancing to control the spread of the deadly disease. The impact of vaccination of 15to 18 years age group and booster doze will be felt after some weeks.  Prevention is always better than cure. Avoiding Covid appropriate behaviour will make vaccinated people victims of the disease.  It seems that the local authorities are not paying any heed to Central advisory.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

Lockdown is not  the solution

Need of the hour is to be strict on adopting preventive measures rather go in for lockdown. Lockdown has already affected people financially, economically and physically. Public must be educated to wear mask in public places.  Also keeping social distance while standing in queues and frequently sanitising hands should become a habit. Lastly, the authorities must ensure compulsory vaccination, which should be free of cost, for beneficiaries. Help of NGOs and other social organisations must be taken to ensure compliance of safety norms.

Col TBS Bedi (retd),  Mohali

Close Sukhna Lake for public in evenings

It is essential  in the wake of increasing coronavirus cases to control and manage places where large crowds are gathering. Restricting crowds in public offices to those with double vaccination is welcome, but it is meaningless if same restrictions are not applied at Sukhna Lake and malls. The lake must be closed to the public in evenings when large crowds surface. Morning walkers, who are fully vaccinated, should be allowed to visit lake. Where is ‘always ready to challan’ Chandigarh Police when people are flouting Covid appropriate behaviour with impunity?

Gurnoor Grewal, Chandigarh

Impose fine on defaulters

To realise the severity of the present situation, fine must be imposed on defaulters as this will be a lesson for others to follow Covid guidelines. This will also ensure effective implementation of the safety protocol by all stakeholders, including government, non-government organisations.

Dr Shakha Sharda, Chandigarh

There is no room  for complacency

It is highly intriguing to observe that a large number of defaulters continue to flout the Covid appropriate behaviour in the City Beautiful amidst cops on duty. While one presupposes that Chandigath residents are qualified enough to realise the folly of not meticulously following the MHA mandated guidelines, but sadly the situation on ground zero reveals entirely different yet grossly worrisome scenario. It is strongly felt that the UT Administration must first bring its own house in order. Any laxity on the part of cops towards the strictest enforcement of the Covid related guidelines, ought to be dealt with in some exemplary manner. Those residents found violating norms must be dealt with sternly. Mere imposition of a meagre Rs500 fine does not seem to be having any positive impact on defaulters. It must be enhanced to Rs5,000. 

Kumar Gupt, Panchkula

Resident, too, have moral duty

The third wave of Covid-19 is imminent. Rather it has started showing its signs as daily cases are on the rise. Firstly, all need to realise the fact that we have to learn to live with the pandemic. But this doesn’t mean that Covid appropriate behaviour should go for a toss. A proper roadmap comprising detection of the disease, vaccination and following Covid guidelines is must. Though, it is the primary duty of the government to safeguard lives of citizens, residents too have a moral duty of following all guidelines issued from time to time. Only collective efforts of the government, enforcement agencies and the people can help in tackling this situation. Hope that third wave will abate soon.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

Situation aggravated due to Lack of will  

The reason why the UT Administration failed in enforcing Covid protocol is lack of will. Just announcements and appeals are ineffective especially when ‘netas’ are seen without masks and draw crowds for rallies. Postponement of elections, imposing heavy fines on defaulters and deploying police personnel to check violations at public places might prevent surge in the pandemic. The public complacency compounded with government’s carelessness will otherwise have dire consequences.

Bubby Soin, Chandigarh

Self-restraint will make the difference

Despite repeated appeals to residents to strictly follow the Covid-19 protocol, including wearing mask, maintaining social distance at public places and frequently washing hands, there are still many defaulters, who derive some sort of sadistic pleasure in flouting these norms. Since there is hardly adequate manpower with the enforcing agency to apprehend them, these violators go scot free thereby spreading Covid further. Although restrictions imposed by  the  UT Administration in curtailing the number of people at public places and allowing entry of only fully vaccinated might help to some extent, it is the self-restraint and discipline to strictly follow norms  will only make the difference.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

Keep Round-the-clock vigil on defaulters

The Chandigarh Administration should enforce safety protocol strictly. The police should keep a round-the-clock vigil on people, who don’t follow Covid appropriate behaviour. The police should penalise violators and put them behind bars for few a few days.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

Switch to online mode

Heavy penalty should be imposed on defaulters for violating Covid-19 protocols. Social distancing norm is not being followed in health centres and dispensaries where beneficiaries are vaccinated. Masses must feel the gravity of the situation and adhere to safety protocols. Movement outside homes should be restricted to urgent work only. Educational institutions and offices should switch to online mode.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Restrict access to public amenities 

There should be restriction on access to public amenities and government benefits such as ration and pension for those, who don’t get vaccinated. If implemented more people come forward to get vaccinated. But it does not mean people can move freely in public places. All must continue to follow guidelines. Fully vaccinated people should also take precautions to protect themselves and others. 

Anita Tandon, Kharar

Aggressive testing, tracing needed 

It’s really a worrisome situation to witness increasing Covid cases in the tricity during the last few days. With opening of almost all economic activities across the country, public has become complacent towards virus. All need to be extra cautious. Wearing mask and maintaining social distance is the need of the hour. While discipline on following Covid-19 guidelines is expected from the public, the UT Administration has to be more aggressive on testing and tracing along with pushing the vaccination drive vigorously.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Coordination between government, residents 

Violators of Covid protocol only understand the language of penalty and punishment. They must be dealt with strictly. Imposing restrictions is easy, but implementing these is hard. No vaccination, no mask and no entry should be the norm. Residents have to be self-disciplined when it comes to following safety protocol. Politicians must act responsibly. Lone government cannot check the spread of virus. Coordination among government agencies, residents, NGOs and RWAs can help in such a grim situation.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Restrictions not good for people

The UT Administration must ensure that masks are available free of cost. Imposing restrictions on common people is not a fair decision. Rather violators of safety norms must be challaned. Hospitals should be upgraded. Experts must hold online awareness camps to convince people follow Covid appropriate behaviour. 

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Adopt odd, even formula for shops

The Administration shouldn’t have allowed any political rallies/gatherings during the Municipal Corporation elections. Just allowing fully vaccinated people to enter public places can’t guarantee that Covid cases won’t surge. Rather, the Administration should encourage people to do their work online from home. Don’t challan people in busy markets for not wearing masks. Punish them openly. Also the fine should be doubled. The Administration must adopt even/odd formula for opening shops and enhance their closing time.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

Remain vigilant, don’t lower guard

The Covid third wave has knocked at our doors. Large number of people turning positive of late in the tricity has forced the Administration to impose night curfew along with other restrictions to control the spread of the virus. New Omicron variant has made us realise that the Covid-19 scare is still a reality. People should act responsibly and get their second vaccine dose at the earliest.  Door-to-door vaccination should be started by the UT Administration. Facilities should be ramped up and also sufficient hospital beds may be identified, in case the need arises. Covid appropriate behaviour should continue to be adhered by all everywhere. Any violation of the same should be penalised. Only fully vaccinated persons should be allowed in all public places. Political leaders should act as role models rather than publicly flouting all existing norms. Election rallies should be banned. No one knows about the future of this virus. So, we have to remain vigilant and should not lower our guard at any cost.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

QUESTION

In order to check the steady rise of Covid-19 cases in Chandigarh, what further restrictions should be imposed by the UT Administration without impacting people’s livelihood?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com