Editor,
In the past few days, there have been mixed reactions on the reopening of schools in Meghalaya. Some are against, while some are for it, with certain guidelines to be followed by different schools. Looking from the syllabus point of view, schools should be reopened. But looking from the health point of view, it should be absolutely NO. Schools and colleges should not take the risk of doing so. The Education Department should also consider the matter wisely. Are the schools really prepared for this? Can they follow the COVID – 19 protocols in letter and spirit? Some schools can’t even arrange drinking water for the students, how can one expect that they will strictly follow the protocols.
Well, some have suggested reopening the schools and colleges with 30% strength. Now most of the schools and colleges have not less than 800 students. So 30% of 800 will come to 240. If 20 people are difficult to check, how can you check 240? And God forbid, if there is a positive case in any of the schools or colleges, who is responsible then? Another danger is, once schools and colleges reopen, all students, even those from the ‘red zones’ have to come to attend their classes, and you can understand what will happen. I feel that reopening of schools at this juncture is inviting the worst.
As a parent, I cannot take the risk of sending my kids to school as early as June (as suggested by some). I would like, therefore, to appeal to the Government and the Department concerned not to be in a hurry to re-open the schools or colleges in our State.
Education and knowledge can be attained in due course of time, but not life.
Yours etc.,
Julius Lyngdoh,
Via email
Quarantine violators should be fined
Editor,
If fines can be imposed on villagers who are unaware of the restrictions on movement as happened in Laitlyngkot then perhaps a similar penalty should be imposed upon quarantine violators for putting at risk the safety of a lot of other people. The drama shifts to the State Health Minister’s ridiculous statement that there aren’t any rooms left for institutional quarantine. Then why in the first place did the State Government bring back the state residents? If things are being suddenly taken for granted in the hope of spending less money for prevention, it may soon take a toll on society, and God forbid the symptoms begin to show and spread. As always the ministers are in their own galaxy unaware of rapid changes happening. Hope good sense prevails and some pragmatic action is taken to provide for institutional quarantine.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar,
Shillong:
We can’t throw caution to the winds
Editor,
Apropos the letter, “Why hysteria about masks?” by Ronald Bareh (ST, May 16, 2020), everyone has his/her own perspective to look at any issue of public concern. It is his/her personal right to express them in a public forum. So, I appreciate the writer’s viewpoints. However, in short, I would like to inform all that there are many states in India, and also many developed countries in the world, that have taken the “extreme” step of enforcing the pecuniary penalty to hold down the hysterically defiant people or crowds amid the mounting Covid19 crisis. Such information will come cascading down if one just Googles. Not just that the Chief Secretary of Delhi government and also the Rajasthan government have seemingly gone a little off the track by even imposing the draconian jail term of 6 months to 2 years.
Well, it is completely a matter of sane debate whether the respective orders/penalties are justified or not. But one thing is very clear that a few wrong steps, knowingly or unknowingly, even by a SINGLE person can spell unprecedented disaster. Covid19 has virulent jaws that can swallow up the entire population of the world. Therefore, what I am very sure of is that we can’t throw caution to the winds now.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong
Affordability of Corona Testing &Treatment
Editor,
Last week ending May 9, 2020 had seen a steep rise in the number of Coronavirus cases in the country. On an average around 3500 new cases are getting added every day. The figure had thereafter (as on May 17, 2020) crossed an alarming 90, 000 cases and there are no signs of the curve getting flattened. Looking at the mammoth problem looming large, the Government has already allowed private labs & hospitals for both testing and treatment. A timely decision taken but the most serious concern is of affordability and accessibility for all.
Unfortunately, the testing in private labs is still at Rs 4500 in almost all the states. Similarly, treatment in private hospitals is just too expensive for the middle class to afford. The bills are in lakhs and in a few hospitals, even a single day’s quarantine may cost in lakhs. Allowing private hospitals for treatment of COVID 19 is a great step; in fact, more private hospitals should be added to bolster the preparedness to face the serious threat, but without a price cap it will dilute the whole purpose of making the treatment affordable & accessible and immediate for all. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare needs to issue a legal order for price-capping for strict implementation as affordable for common people to effect immediately.
Massive tracing, testing and timely treatment at an affordable price is the only way to save thousands of lives. Private medical infrastructure at affordable rates is the need of the hour. For retired and other senior citizens (urban & rural) testing & treatment need to be provided free of cost at their door-step.
Lockdown is an important measure to stop community transmission of the virus. But, door-to-door survey and testing for Coronavirus is of utmost importance in order to get to the core of the problem. By doing this survey; in fact tracing, it can be assured that no person goes without treatment and would be a move towards stepping closer to the day when India is finally Corona-free. For this purpose it is therefore necessary to make door to door testing for Covid- 19 do mandatory across the country. In order to augment faster and rapid testing, mobile kiosks for testing Covid-19 may be pressed into service in adequate numbers with immediate effect.
Yours etc.,
Via email