Coronavirus outbreak: PGI faculty opposes opening of shops in Chandigarh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29

Taking a critical view of the UT administration decision to allow opening of all chemists, vegetables, fruits, meat, grocery shop, from 10 am to 6 pm from Saturday, the Faculty Association of PGIMER, Chandigarh, has demanded immediate withdrawal of the order

"This will defeat the purpose of social distancing and quarantine. It will be impossible to maintain social distancing when the shops are open. The medical fraternity is struggling to ensure steps to contain the spread of the virus, arrange personal protective equipments for the health care staff, arrange special wards/ICUs for the impending epidemic,"  PGI faculty association president J S Thakur said in a statement

It said the only way to contain this virus was by prevention. "In no way we will be able to  handle this disease if it reaches the proportion of countries like Italy, China, etc. Our Prime Minister has announced a package worth crores of rupees to fight this epidemic. All that money will also be of no use, if the epidemic reaches Stage 3 or 4. We don't know under whose able advice this step has been taken," said Thakur.