Early detection, aggressive testing key to curb spread

How can Ludhiana handle the spiralling Covid-19 cases?

As the lockdown curbs are being relaxed, we can't afford to be careless. We have to follow the rules. To contain the virus spread, do not travel much long distance and in case a person moves from one place to another then he/she should isolate himself for the safety of others. To overcome the rising cases, two-day lockdown at the weekends should be implemented. The police have to take strict action on those who violate social distancing norms.

Sanjana

Fighting Covid a collective effort

To curb the Covid-19 spread in the district, following steps can be very useful. Firstly, analyse the situation and ensure rules are being followed. Secondly, the civic body must aware the public with comprehensive information regarding Covid-19 and its spread along with regulations to be followed. Thirdly, implementation of instructions plays a vital role and defaulters should be punished. People should abide by the guidelines and realise their duty as a responsible citizen. Lastly, in order to arrest the Covid-19 spread, a collective effort is needed at a large scale.

Harkirat Singh Shankar

Counsel friends, family

To keep Covid-19 predicaments at bay, it is necessary to maintain physical distance. By following proper respiratory hygiene, including usage of masks and sanitisers, along with proper washing of hands frequently must be ensured. Wash hands frequently and use an alcohol-based sanitiser. Avoid touching your nose, ears and mouth. After touching surfaces such as door knobs, water taps etc. Do not spit in public, use a spittoon or washbasin for spitting. Avoid unnecessary travel. Sanitise vegetables and fruits before consuming them. Counsel your friends and family on good respiratory hygiene, proper placement of mask on face.

Smriti Chaudhary

Prevention better than cure

To ensure that precautions are followed by the citizens is the prime duty of the administration. Government hospitals must be capable of treating people in a healthy way, as these are the only source to the poor seeking treatment against Covid-19. No negligence should be tolerated by the administration in taking the necessary precautions. There must be proper checking on whether people are following the guidelines religiously or not.

Tanya Bajaj

Reward those who follow rules

The rising Covid-19 cases in Ludhiana can be tackled by strict actions and willingness of the people. There is a need of lockdown in the district for some days. Only essential services must be allowed to run. Mass testing is required. There are a lot of people who are not adapting to the new normal. We must wash our hands and face regularly. The number of passengers travelling in public transport must be kept under check. They must refrain from going outside without any reason. Those who spit or smoke in public places must be severely punished. Those who follow the rules properly must be awarded. To avoid rush, every service should be segregated according to time. Social media is an effective tool to aware people about the disease. Many cases have been reported in the Police Department and other government departments. It would be good for everyone if we start following rules by ourselves. We should be wise enough to protect our life as well as the lives of people around us.

Manmohan Kaur

Conduct door-to-door surveys

The situation in Ludhiana is getting critical day by day. There should be an attempt to carry out door-to-door surveys, identifying and isolating the vulnerable such as people with ILI, SARI, and fast tracking contact tracing which would definitely give some control over the situation. The hyper local strategy has to be initialised at this tough time when Ludhiana and several other big cities in the country, appear to have lost control over the virus. Not only the government but the public should also rise to the challenge by taking precautions to prevent the city from these circumstances.

Komal Kakkar

Screen migrants

Despite so many precautions and measures, the number of Covid-19 cases are increasing day by day in the district. To curb the spread, we need to find out the reason behind so many cases. First and foremost, people should avoid going out without mask and should maintain social distancing. Secondly, it is duty of the Health Department to aware people. Thirdly, migrants who are returning back to the city must be tested. Lockdown should be implemented on the weekends.

Sukhman Singh

Don't step out without protective mask

Covid 19 cases are rising in posh localities in the city. People should follow social distancing norms strictly. Don't step out of your houses without a protective mask. People coming from outside should be quarantined as soon as they enter the city. In this way, the situation can be handled.

Sneha

Seal containment zones

As we all know that Covid-19 cases are increasing with each passing day in the district. It's high time that some concrete steps are taken in this regard. First of all, citizens should always wear masks whenever they step out of their houses. They should sanitise their gadgets and maintain social distancing. As it is not possible to always wash our hands at every place, one must carry a sanitiser. The district administration should also seal the containment zones, if needed. They should disinfect congested areas. Covid-19 cases can be checked by following these steps.

Deepantika Jain

Drink hot water twice a day

Self-awareness and precaution are the keys to safety. Eating habits should be sound and hygienic. Healthcare services should be provided well on time, at affordable cost. As far as possible, the facility of home-quarantine should be provided first. The patient should be referred to hospital if necessary. Doctors should recommend precautions and effective home remedies regularly. We should drink hot water at least twice a day and make it a habit.

Ritu Priya

Punish violators

Residents must be reminded time and again to stay indoors and cover themselves properly if they go out. Coloured paper posters may be prepared listing preventive steps and pasted on buses, streets and main spots in the city, especially in the areas which are recording high incidence of infections. Social media must also be widely used to popularise these steps to control the infection. These offences must be made punishable under the law. The police tackle the violators with an iron hand. Repeated offenders must be given other harsher punishments like registration of FIRs or impounding vehicles and even imprisonment.

Gautam Dev

Children should not be allowed to play in open

The situation is getting worse day by day. We can curb the spread of the virus by taking certain measures only as there is no vaccine till date. The local government should form a concrete policy and implement it area or zone-wise. The city must be divided into different pockets and in each pocket there must a nodal office which must release the instruction as per the need and requirement of that area. Heavy fines should be imposed on those who don't wear masks. Kids should not be allowed to play in the open or on streets. Instructions about measures to be taken about coronavirus must be displayed on the entry of each street.

Dr.Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Ramp up testing

The steep rise in Covid-19 cases is worrisome. Harsh measures such as strictness in the containment zones, sealing of the district borders, movement only with e-passes etc. are to be taken to contain the pandemic. Venture out of your houses only if there is any dire emergency, otherwise a self-imposed lockdown should be in practice. The administration should speed up testing so that the cases are detected and positive patients are quarantined at the earliest.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Sanitise your surroundings

Handling rising cases will be a tough task for residents. SOPs must be followed strictly at public places. People should be motivated to follow norms on regular intervals through various media and social platforms. Government guidelines from time to time should be followed by the residents and those who are not following the norms should be punished heavily. Surroundings should be sanitised on regular intervals. People with co-morbidities , elderly, kids and pregnant women should restrict movement in public places.

Dr Jasdeep Kaur

Rational approach need of the hour

Although we are regularly advised by the government about various precautions, a rational and measured approach is needed to defeat the disease. Active surveillance, district control rooms for monitoring, enhanced capacity of frontline warriors, risk communication and addressing the psycho-social needs of the vulnerable population are some of the strategic interventions that can be implemented. Ravi Chander Garg

Assign street-wise duties to raise awareness

The situation can be tackled by following these steps. Shops should be allowed to open from 7 am to 7 pm. The government should assign street-wise duties of residents to raise awareness about the disease. Curfew should be imposed during the night and lockdown on weekends. In cars, only two persons, one on the driver’s seat and the other on the rear seat, should be allowed. On two-wheelers, only one person should be allowed. In public transport, the number of passengers should be restricted to one third of the seating capacity. Farzana Khan

OPEN HOUSE COMMENT

No time for half-hearted measures, slackness

Minna Zutshi

Ludhiana is witnessing a massive rise in COVID-19 cases. Preventive measures have to be adopted rigorously. Yes, rigorously and without any scope for any laxity. Take a strict punitive action against those who choose to ignore the preventive measures. Those who willfully put their lives to risk and also expose others to risk cannot be allowed to get away with this kind of callous and irresponsible behaviour.

The WHO guidelines are clear: Limit close contact between infectious people and others. Ensure a physical distance of at least one metre from others. Identify infected people at the earliest so that they can be isolated and cared for and all of their close contacts can be quarantined in appropriate facilities.

Follow the hand hygiene protocol – wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid crowded places, close-contact settings and confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. Good ventilation in homes, offices, work places is to be ensured.

The administration and the authorities concerned should ensure that the rules of home quarantine are followed without fail. This is no time for half-hearted measures or slackness in approach.

OPEN HOUSE QUESTION

What can be done to ensure the access of the patients to the healthcare facilities in the city?

ludhiana.feedback@gmail.com

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