The Chief Secretary had at a public function stated that Meghalaya cannot lets its guard down because the second wave of Covid infection is a reality that cannot be ignored. Covid is infectious and its spread can only be contained by observing all the protocols laid out when the country went into lockdown this time last year. It is unfortunate that just when the economy is set to take wings and small and big businesses have started to open up after a slump, Covid should return for the second time. Western countries have already gone into lockdown mode. In India interestingly, elections are scheduled in West Bengal and Assam and crowds are allowed to gather in the election campaigns where the Prime Minister and Home Minister are addressing election rallies. This sets a bad precedent as crowding violates the social distancing norms.
That said, it is important that individual states take their own precautions so that they suffer lesser adverse impacts from Covid on the health, economic and education fronts. Now schools and colleges in Meghalaya have started opening albeit after observing all Covid protocols such as staggered classes where students attend on alternate days to make space for social distancing. While such protocols are observed by educational institutions and students are asked to strictly wear masks, such is not the case outside the institutions. The busy market places have stopped observing Covid appropriate behaviour. Some vendors wear masks; others don’t and there is no one to ensure compliance. Unless citizens themselves check one another, there is very little that Government can do. A casual observation shows that even students take off their masks once they are out of the school/college campuses. It is a common sight to see two students walking alongside and one wearing a mask while the other doesn’t . Surely this is not a case of lack of awareness. By now even the young understand the seriousness of Covid19 and its potential to claim lives. The second wave is a reality because air and rail travel has started and people are travelling. It is possible that asymptomatic travellers are perhaps carrying the virus with them and spreading it unawares.
While the District Administration has cautioned the public against moving around without masks and also imposing a fine on those that violate this rule, the problem is of enforcement. Ultimately people themselves should take responsibility for enforcing masking in their respective localities. This would allow the law enforcers to strictly police the public spaces.
