City’s Lockdown Day-7! People Still Abusing ‘SOCIAL DISTANCING’ , including Four Nurses?

City’s Lockdown Day-7! People Still Abusing ‘SOCIAL DISTANCING’, including Four Nurses?

Mangaluru: Following the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a 21-day nationwide lock-down, and in order to help out the citizens of Mangaluru, the DC, District Minister in charge, MLA and police commissioner advised the general public regarding the availability of essential services like groceries, milk, fuel, medicine etc. between the time of 7 am and 12 noon. Dr P S Harsha had informed that essential services supply will not be affected and urged the people not to panic and at the same time not to spread unnecessary rumours. Even though the Police Commissioner had appealed to the public to avoid being on groups and maintain social distance, but all in vain- just look at the pictures in this report, you will know what kind of SOCIAL DISTANCING people are following- and it’s shame to note that many of these people who abuse the guidelines are educated, including those in health care, especially these four nurses belonging to a Hospital, seen in my report.

Team Mangalorean was at Kadri market at 7 am, and hardly anyone was seen buying their veggies and fruits, since vehicles had been banned throughout the day, until 14 April. Even the milk booths, medical stores showed not many customers. But riding around the city, Team Mangalorean noticed that after the lockdown was relaxed a bit, people have started abusing SOCIAL DISTANCING again, and the pictures in this report is the proof. If supermarkets are strictly adhering to the guidelines to contain COVID-19, but smaller grocery stores, roadside fish, fruit and veg vendors give a damn to the guidelines, and allow their customers to do like they want while shopping. Even at City Drug Stores, near City Hospital, a bunch of customers were gathered at the counter.

Four Nurses Walking Hand in Hand, close to each other on their way to their workplace to the Hospital

Now let’s talk about those employed in healthcare, and while they should be the example to others in following the guidelines in order to prevent COVID-19, by adhering to social distancing, but a few of them, unfortunately, are abusing the system. I have been noticing a few nurses walking to their workplace for two days, but today I was determined to highlight the violation they have been doing. Following four nurses on their way to their workplace from Bendore Church, I noticed these nurses walking hand in hand, and brushing their body with each other, and having jovial time like they were not aware that they had to follow social distancing- and they all walked to the Hospital at Bendurwell. My humble request to the management to bring awareness among these nurses to follow the guidelines, because people will be watching them.

The Cop inside this police car was just watching & talking to one trader, instead of warning the people abusing Social Distancing

The roads wore a deserted look, where only a few vehicles even though vehicles were prohibited, were seen moving around before 8 am until cops started cracking down on them. But sadly, even after so much of warnings, awareness on COVID-19, people are still ignoring the guidelines is hard to believe. When I mentioned such people as ‘COVIDIOTS’, (idiots) are for several factors responsible for such cavalier behaviour, which show an utter disregard towards public health safety, and a complete lack of social responsibility. According to them, some of the factors that make people act in such a careless manner are social conditioning, lack of faith in the healthcare system, botched-up messaging from the government about COVID-19, lack of historicity as well as the absence of scientific approach.

Now the question one would ask -“Why Some People won’t Practice Social Distancing?”- even when they are aware of the virus and its deadly impact, and ignore government advisories, and media warnings because of their obsessive need for instant gratification. Probably they are all groomed with the “Chalta Hai” attitude, and that no one can stop them. Many don’t ever think about how to behave in public life, and what are their duties and responsibilities towards the society. Many are thinking that what is happening will not affect them. It is not their disease. It has happened in China, and will not affect them, I suppose. Or people are not responding to social distancing is it because they are not fully aware of the seriousness of the problem.

That symbolic gestures initiated by PM Modi like the “Janata curfew” also didn’t help, especially when they turn out to be counterproductive, and instead of encouraging people to stay at home, actually brought people together in groups, and on streets, thereby increasing the risk of spreading the virus. Although Mangaluru didn’t see such a celebration on the streets, but in other cities, it did happen. Totally nonsense- a one-day Nataka! And now, once again, PM Modi has called all Indians to light candles/deepas/hold their mobile phones/flashlights on Sunday, 5 April at 9 pm for 9 minutes, where he said, “Amid the darkness spread by the corona pandemic, we must continuously progress towards light and hope,”. And this will be yet another, one-night Nataka!

Now that the DC and police commissioner has implemented strict guidelines on social distancing and staying at home policy, they should depute authorities and police on streets and take control of the people who abuse the guidelines. Just by implementing and not enforcing the guidelines will be useless, since our Mangaloreans, even though are educated, many are still ignorant and lack common sense. Authorities and police need to be patrolling the streets even in the early morning, and not after 9 am?

There needs to be strict law enforcement to further secure the rights of safety for all. Inspirational messages/stories coming from the national icons will pace up the awareness, acceptance and action. It may be beneficial to point out how social distancing has offered everyone a time to relax, reflect, recognize and resurrect. Team Mangalorean makes a humble request to the District administration and Police Force, in order for people to strictly follow Social Distancing, there need to be more City Officials and Police on streets, to straighten up a bunch of these Ignorant Citizens or call them “COVIDIOTS”- so that the spread of COVID-19 is prevented.

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