Can We Have The Covid Restrictions In Place For One More Month?
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2020-08-25 15:19:29
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
As August comes to an end with a record number of new Covid cases, the government has to strongly apply its mind before announcing further relaxations under Unlock 4 because experts have predicted that India is likely to see a peak in September. All indications are that if we can strictly follow the health protocols for another month, there might be a decline in fresh cases in percentage terms and the curve will be flattened.
It is being reported that Metro services might be resumed with severe restrictions from September 1. While educational institutions and cinema halls are likely to remain closed for another month, it is being expected that bars will be allowed to sell liquor for off-shop consumption and further relaxations might be allowed for holdings public gatherings.
Given the fact that attendance in all offices has been curtailed (with government offices having 50 percent attendance on a given day), not many problems being reported by commuters in big cities and with educational institutions being kept closed for another month, it will be wiser to keep the Metro services suspended for another month. Since the Metro is the preferred mode of commuting for a large number of people, it will be extremely difficult to manage the crowds and all health protocols will go for a toss, leading to the rapid spread of the virus.
Since cinema hall owners have already expressed their inability to resume operations in the prescribed manner (with the government stipulated restrictions meaning that they will be able to sell only 25 percent of the tickets), it is better that they remain closed in September and reopen, possibly in October, with lesser restrictions, once the cases hopefully start to decline in that month.
As liquor shops have been allowed to reopen long back, even if the government feels that unruly gatherings cannot be allowed at bars, it should allow them to sell liquor for off-shop consumption. That will also reduce the crowding at liquor shops. Further, if stand-alone bars are not allowed to reopen, then bar-cum-restaurants and clubs must also not be allowed to serve liquor as that would be discriminatory.
It is not time yet to relax the restrictions for public gatherings. The government must not bow in to pressure from interested groups and allow more people to assemble in public. Even without the go-ahead, people, especially politicians, are flouting the norm with impunity. The recent visuals of a BJP membership drive in Gwalior showed that most of the thousands of attendees were without masks and chairs were arranged without caring for social distancing norms. If the rules are relaxed now, there will be a free for all and such gatherings will emerge as potential hotspots.
