Guwahati must behave

The COVID-19 scenario in Guwahati is far from satisfactory. With an increasing number of persons testing positive, the authorities are left with no option but to declare lockdown in specific parts of 11 municipality wards of the city. As per the notification, movement of all individuals have been strictly prohibited in these areas, all business, industrial, commercial activities and educational institutions have been closed, and movement of private vehicles has been banned. The lockdown will remain in force for 14 days. As the authorities have said, there has been large-scale spread of COVID-19-affected cases among the people of these areas, thus posing a major threat to public health, hygiene and safety of the general population. It is a matter of great concern that the situation in Guwahati has worsened, and this despite repeated caution sounded by the government every passing day. It is a fact that a section of citizens have refused to heed to the repeated warnings, and blatantly refused to follow the few simple precautionary measures needed to prevent the virus from spreading. Wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, frequently washing hands with soap, using hand sanitizers, not spitting here and there and maintaining hygiene – these are the simple ways to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Yet, a section of our citizens have refused to follow them. The outcome is – the entire population of certain localities are suffering just because some percentage of people has acted in a grossly irresponsible manner. The most disgusting aspect is that those who have flouted the norms are not all illiterate people. Majority of them will be literate, educated and well-to-do people who think they can get away with anything. COVID-19 has shown that one can escape by breaking a law, but one cannot escape from this virus by doing so. That exactly is why the government has asked the Commissioner of Police and the Kamrup (Metro) District Magistrate to strictly enforce the relevant laws against any person violating the measures. That certain areas of Guwahati are placed under a total lockdown should also serve as a warning for residents of other localities. As Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said, the situation in Guwahati is not a welcoming one. To prevent the virus from spreading in Guwahati to what is seen in Delhi and Mumbai, the people will have to strictly follow the COVID-19 protocols like wearing masks and maintaining social distance, or else the worst is inevitable.