GUWAHATI: While Assam, along with the rest of the country, is inching towards the end of the 21-day national lockdown to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, Guwahatians feel that the lockdown should be extended beyond the previously-decided 21 days.
Assam has recorded a total 29 positive cases of COVID-19 including one death due to the deadly virus. As the number of cases are steadily increasing in the state, people are becoming apprehensive about lifting of the lockdown.
G Plus conducted a poll on its social media channels and asked Guwahatians if they feel that the lockdown should be extended given the rising number of coronavirus cases.
More than 10,800 people participated in the poll and a majority of them said that the government should extend the lockdown beyond April 14.
Vikas Agarwal, a resident of Guwahati said that the desire to extend the lockdown shall continue till we get a vaccine or the numbers of infected cases reduce significantly.
He said, “Both that won’t happen very soon. But the lockdown can’t go on indefinitely. Instead the government can, under very strict social distancing protocols, very selectively, start bringing back some degree of normalcy. Given that the government had enough time to sensitise the public and get a grip over its movement, the government can selectively restore normalcy.”
It is to be mentioned that Odisha recently became the first state to extend the lockdown. This was announced on April 9 after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a meeting of the state cabinet.
Patnaik said Odisha would also ask the Centre not to resume train and air services till April 30. Schools and educational institutions would remain closed till June 17.
It is to be mentioned that Odisha has reported 42 confirmed Covid-19 cases so far and one person has died in the state due to coronavirus.
Further, Assam health and family welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that nearly 75,000 people in the state would complete the mandatory 14-day home quarantine on April 10 and would be released from the same.
Another Guwahatian Nitesh Jain, threw light on some of the measures that could be undertaken by the government in the coming time. He mentioned that interstate travelling should not be allowed at the moment except for special cases. Further, travelling within the state could begin with tickets booked only for intermittent seats for maintaining social distance. He added that buses should not allow more than 10 persons per trip and private cars should follow the odd-even rule as in Delhi.
Further, Rintu Das echoed the thoughts of many and said that even under the lockdown, the city has witnessed many sporadic instances of large gatherings of people especially for buying vegetables and meat, so one can’t imagine the scenario when it is lifted.
“If there are any chances of lifting the lockdown, then the government should take strict action to implement and maintaining social distance and also restrictions should be put for coming out of home unnecessarily. Only essential services should be allowed to remain operational. Once lockdown is lifted completely, there will be havoc as people seldom follows the rules implied. We people do not understand the implications of this pandemic and rather just ignore it as a joke.”
On the other hand, Sayan Deori touched upon the effect on the lockdown on the poorest of the poor and those engaged in the unorganised sector.
“Agree Lockdown has prevented spread of cases. But the shocks received by the daily wage workers and informal labourers are beyond repair. More people will die of hunger and starvation. We are privileged enough and cannot gauge the situation in the poorer communities. If we don't take their voices in to account it's going to be disaster,” he stated.
In the same vein, Shivani Gautam feels that whereas the lockdown must be extended beyond April 14, the needy should be provided with the daily essentials in a door-to-door facility so that there is no misappropriation of the items.
“The government should choose a local authority under supervision of the concerned Police Station to do the same, otherwise the needy and daily wage earners will die of hunger,” she said.
Some also expressed concern over those who have been stranded outside the state and said that efforts should be made to bring them back to the state.
