Lockdown: A farce?

In spite of the best efforts of the government, health department, doctors, nurses, lab technicians to cleaning staff, the best efforts are going down the drainage, bearing no fruits. The recent hike in number of positive cases of coronavirus in the state and more particularly in Guwahati is an indicator or pointer. Government's decision to impose lockdown in Guwahati to combat the spread of virus is not working. I mean lockdown, even the strictest is not the solution, unless and until there is mass awareness. In this regard, apart from the government, the role of other stakeholders (opposition parties, media, various regional organizations, etc) is equally important to create a greater awareness about the do's and don'ts among the masses. Recently in Dhing one was shocked to mass gathering (in thousands) crossing the prescribed number of 20 people, in the funeral of a religious leader. Where was the law enforcers, public representatives, and others. Again Congress chief Ripun Bora was spotted in Dhemaji organizing a protest rally against the fuel hike but without maintaining any social distancing norms. Similarly, a few Cabinet ministers attended public meetings without caring least about the Health department's recommendations. Even some of the reporters of local news channels flaunt government guidelines.

If the policy of lockdown continues, I beg to state that people of lower economic strata like cobblers, rickshaw pullers, small time businessmen, and others will die of starvation rather than COVID-19 infection. There are people who are suffering from numerous diseases (some of which are deadlier than coronavirus), but they are unable to come for treatment due to fear of coronavirus and also lockdown. It's a harsh reality but we have to live with coronavirus till vaccine or medicine comes out but only thing we should do is to follow the Health department's guidelines religiously, else we are for doom. Lockdown is farce, only solution is wearing hygienic mask and maintaining social or physical distance.

Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,

Ambari, Guwahati-1.