COVID-19: Lockdown may not end soon, no one wants to take any chance

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 10: With just four days left for the 21-day nationwide lockdown announced by the Government of India (GoI) to end governments in various States and Union Territories seem indecisive about whether to lift the lockdown or not.
The GoI has dropped enough hints about putting the ball into the court of regional governments and most probably these dispensations will have to take a call on what to do. Odisha and Punjab have already decided to extend the lockdown as the governments of both the States have said that they don’t want to take any chances.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration is likely to continue with the stern measures as the COVID-19 positive cases are increasing with each passing day. The J&K has already surpassed 200 mark and many areas have been declared as Red Zones.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Srinagar has been the worst hit as more than 50 cases have been reported in the district so far.”
On Thursday Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chaudary, while addressing a news conference here said that lockdown would be intensified in coming days and every effort will be made to ensure that no one moves out from the Red Zones.
The Red Zones are those areas where number of COVID-19 positive cases has been high and there is a possibility of infection spreading at a rapid pace.
The analyst said, “The Jammu and Kashmir administration may relax the restrictions in the areas, where the COVID-19 cases have not been reported. But the restrictions are likely to continue in the areas where these cases have come to fore.”
Referring to the directions passed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the States and Union Territories on Friday to ensure complete compliance of lockdown orders, the analyst said, “The MHA issuing an order just four days before the 21-day lockdown is likely to end is a hint that all is not well. No religious gathering or congregations will be allowed in coming days. It looks like that the government is also aware of the fact that lifting lockdown at this point of time can lead to the COVID-19 spreading at a fast pace. So there is every possibility about States and UTs extending the restrictions on their own. At present borders of most of the States are sealed and no one is being allowed to move from one area to another.”
He said that it looks like that the only solution to keep the COVID-19 under control is to extend the lockdown till the curve flattens. At present we have more than 6000 COVID-19 positive cases in the country and the death toll has crossed 200. “India cannot take chances. Economy can be revived but if the lives are lost these cannot be brought back,” the analyst added.

 

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