Sunday, 16 January 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The cases of Covid-19 are increasing at an alarming rate in Dehradun with 6,143 active cases in the district as on Saturday. Despie the authorities stressing on observance of Covid protocol including wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing in public, many citizens can still be seen flouting the Covid norms in different areas of the provisional state capital. This correspondent talked to citizens regarding the continued apathy of many people towards Covid appropriate behaviour in public places.
Office goer Ishita Bisht said, “Many people can still be seen without masks in public places. Such people are being fined but the required chance in public behaviour doesn’t seem to be taking place. If they see someone being fined, they immediately wear a mask and once they are out of sight they move the mask to their chin or remove it completely. Moreover, if you tell such people to wear a mask, they give a scowl and move on.”
Student Pradeep Singh said, “Our classes are being held online considering the increase in the number of Covid positive cases. But what about the people who are roaming around the city without masks? What about these kind people who are neither affected by the rising number of Covid cases or being fined? Such people are acting irresponsibly by not heeding official directions and putting their lives and the lives of others in danger.”
Another local resident Kanika Nautiyal opined that people who are aware are wearing masks and maintaining social distance in public places. “However, people who are not doing so need to wake up as they are the ones who are not willing to understand the gravity of the situation, especially after the spread of the Omicron variant. They are the people who get offended when somebody tells them to wear a mask. For such people who are not listening to anybody and doing what they want, stricter action must be taken by the authorities,” she said. She further added that considering the consistent rise in Covid cases in Dehradun, the authorities should consider imposing stricter measures.Shopkeeper Harshit Sharma said, “We are not serving the shoppers who are not wearing masks. It is mandatory for all the staff and shoppers to wear masks and maintain proper social distancing inside the store.” He added that if the shopkeepers become casual then some people do not follow the guidelines either.
