Srinagar: Despite a warning issued by experts about a third wave of virus, people are still violating COVID19 protocols in public places in the summer capital.
Experts fear that violation of COVID SoPs may hasten the predicted third wave of virus. The increase in COVID19 positive cases have also been witnessed in the past few weeks.
Though police and other agencies have been imposing fines on violators from time to time, the violations have increased as is evident in city markets and public transport.
District Administration Srinagar has also asked people to adhere to safety guidelines, with Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Aijaz Assad saying: “violation of COVID19 safety guidelines would be an “invitation to third wave of virus”.
“People who come out of their homes are least concerned about maintaining social distance or wearing face masks. Off course, we have seen decline in COVID19 positivity cases but we must not lower our guard against pandemic,” said a medico.
He added that negligence as people demonstrate in markets, roads and public transport can prove a disaster. “It may also hasten the arrival of the predicted third wave of virus.”
Tariq Ahmad of Dalgate said that the violations are occurring at a time when district administration, Police, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Health Department Kashmir, all are working hard to avoid or minimize the third wave of virus.
The violation of COVID19 safety guidelines are apparent at public places, public transport with people not maintaining social distance and roaming out without putting on a facemask.
An official said that special teams have been set up to check the violations and to take legal action against violators.
After a recent decline, Srinagar district has witnessed the highest number of positive COVID19 cases among other districts in recent past weeks.
Doctors have expressed concern over the high number of casualties due to COVID19, especially among the unvaccinated in Kashmir. Three people, all unvaccinated, lost battle with SARS-CoV2 between Monday and Tuesday at Chest Diseases Hospital here.
Recently, J&K government released an analysis of the casualties due to COVID19 in the Kashmir division. As per the data pertaining to approximately three months period, those who had not taken COVID19 vaccine were at least five times more at risk of dying than those who had taken both the doses of vaccine. The data analysis of pre-vaccine period and post vaccine period in Kashmir was also carried out and it was found that vaccines have reduced the rate of hospital admissions by more than half.
On 19 November, this year, Jammu and Kashmir Government reviewed the preventive efforts of the District Administrations against surge in Covid cases.
District Administrations were directed to adopt systematic and innovative means for effective clinical management measures in a planned manner.
Divisional Commissioners were directed to constitute COVID inspection teams at the Divisional and District levels for conducting random inspections of various public places and health institutions.
Sub Divisional Magistrate and Nodal Officer COVID19 Mitigation Srinagar Owais Mushtaq said that a fine amounting to around Rs 55 lakh has been recovered from the violators in recent months.
“Our teams are continuously working in the field for implementation of safety guidelines. However, it seems as people have forgotten the threat of third wave. There is off course also increase in positive cases in recent days,” he said while replying to a query.
“People must adhere to COVID19 protocol in letter and spirit to avoid imposition of COVID19 lockdown afresh,” he added.