Editor,
Even while we sympathize with the tragic death of Dr John Sailo whose contributions we all acknowledge and grieve with his family who are also going through an unprecedented and challenging time and being infected too, since the cause of death is by an infectious and incurable disease so far, for the sake of public health and safety, one question will have to be asked. Why did it take till the last stage of Dr Sailo’s life, two days to be precise, for the family to find out that they were infected by the virus especially when they all come from a medical background and know all the symptoms of the disease and are aware of the Government’s guidelines . Correct me if I am wrong.
By keeping their infection from the notice of the Government and thereby putting the lives of so many people at risk, is it not gross negligence on their part? From zero case to eleven cases with one fatality and all in the same family including their helper ,and that too in less than a week, is a cause for concern for every citizen of the state, even while the search for primary and secondary possible infections from this source still continues. With their helper’s family now under quarantine in their village, we just hope and pray that this source does not become a hot spot for the spread of the Covid 19 infection in our state.
If this Covid 19 infection is to be controlled the source of the infection will also have to be indentified immediately to know how far the spread is. The quarantine rules will have to be strictly enforced no matter who, rich or poor, besides enforcing the other lockdown measures adopted the world over .
This write-up is not to stigmatize any family but as a warning to any individual or family not to treat the symptoms of this virus lightly or to hide it from the authorities’ notice when infected and to realize the criminal consequences of doing so. Only through public cooperation can we can help the Government’s efforts to contain this COVID pandemic while at the same time it’s the Government’s duty to keep the general public updated and informed on all relevant information to prevent any unnecessary panic.
Yours etc.,
Michael N Syiem,
Via email
Overpricing of essential commodities
Editor,
The sudden rise in prices of grocery items has become a serious concern for many poor households, more particularly when they have no source of income in this lockdown period. Many retailers have been taking undue advantage of the situation. I was shocked to note that the ordinary arhar pulse is being sold at between Rs 120-130 per kg while it should not be more than Rs 100. Similarly, the retail price of sugar should not exceed Rs 45 per kg but many shops are charging Rs 50-55 from gullible customers. Some of the retail shopkeepers are selling potatoes at Rs 35 per kg instead of Rs 25, while some ripped off the unsuspecting buyers by selling it at Rs 45 a kg when there was panic-buying during the early phase of the lockdown relaxation. It has also come to my notice that rice (ordinary LAI brand) is now being sold at Rs 1400- 1500 per 50 kg while it was sold in the range of Rs 800 to Rs 1000 before lockdown.
Given the increasing transportation and other incidental expenses, a variation of Rs 2 to Rs 3 or sometimes Rs 5 per kg is understandable but not the huge profit margin. I totally concur with what KSU has said about controlling the prices of the essential food items. I strongly feel that the concerned authority should take steps to control this exorbitant price-hike of essential commodities. It should be made mandatory for each retailer to paste the price-list of essential grocery items. Arbitrary pricing should be checked by taking stern measures in this lockdown period.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Let’s fight Covid together
Editor,
For over five months now, the entire world has been battling against the Covid-19 virus which perhaps originated from China. However, till date no vaccine has been developed against this highly contagious virus and no medication available to treat the infected patients. Although the doctors and researchers worldwide are trying their best to find out an anti-dote for this virus, it is unlikely they will succeed within the next one-two years according to media reports. To contain spread of this virus almost all the countries have locked down their cities and towns for varying periods which has no doubt retarded its spread to some extent. In addition, isolation of the infected persons and testing of potential sources has also been undertaken as other measures to minimize its spread. Lock down which is a ‘chain breaking mechanism’ cannot be continued indefinitely and have to be withdrawn sooner than later.
In this backdrop we have to realize and be mentally prepared to the fact that the virus would stay not only in our state but also in the entire world in the next one-two years. Henceforth we have to live with the corona virus and modify our lifestyle accordingly. Perhaps the newly adopted measures like wearing mask, cough etiquette, hand wash, social distancing norms, isolation/quarantine et al have to be practiced by us till the virus is completely eradicated or a vaccine invented. Perhaps we have to de-congest our class rooms by introducing three days ‘in school’ sessions and three days ‘online sessions’ dividing each class into two halves. Similarly, public transportation is also going to reinvent its present ‘over crowded’ image. Office, malls, shops, religious functions, social gatherings, socializing and sporting activities will have to discover new contours in the changed world.
It will not be unusual to find our friends or family members infected with Covid-19 and it will also be a common sight to find them recovering from the infection just as we recover from common flu and many other ailments. It is always better to accept the reality, adapt to the new system and be prepared to face the challenge with strong will power. Thus, in the post Covid-19 world we have to conquer our fear and continue our battle collectively transcending all man-made barriers such as country, state, race, religion etc., so that all of us can survive in this beautiful planet.
Yours etc.,
N.K. Kehar
Shillong-3