Mayor says that Covid spike could prompt re-introduction of lockdown

Opposition leader Ravi Raja seeks strict social distancing norms to be followed in BEST buses

@hepzia

Mumbai: The spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in Mumbai could prompt the city to re-introduce lockdown measures again, stated Mumbai’s mayor Kishori Pednekar. Speaking to thenews21.com, Pednekar stated: “Mumbai could be on the verge of re-introducing lockdown because people are so casual about following basic Covid precautions like not wearing masks in public and not maintaining social distancing. When the city takes so many efforts to take the onus of public health, medication, food and other concerns, shouldn’t the public be responsible enough for follow basic norms.”

Mumbai has recorded 33 deaths and 1735 new cases of Covid on September 5. 

The first citizen of Mumbai explained that people were resisting even basic Covid precautionary measures and instead sought unrealistic demands like access to temples, ignoring the ground reality. “The number of people visiting temples every day is very less. Most people visit them only on special days. Yet our political parties come up with these unrealistic demands to salvage their own fading political existence,” observed Pednekar. 

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She also expressed concern about the lax concern displayed by private employers. “The private sector doesn’t seem to understand the health concerns of their employees and treat them like servants. The Pune journalists who succumbed to Covid had alerted their offices about their health issues but were denied leaves and hence ended up losing their lives,” she observed. 

Pednekar informed that she had directed her own grandchildren to not be sent to school during this year, even if schools were to open now. “Their lives are more important. It’s ok even if they miss an academic year,” she explained. 

Leader of the opposition in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Ravi Raja concurred: “The renewed spike in Covid cases clearly shows that there was let up in implementation of contact tracing, isolation measures and containment zones. The BMC needs to introduce more stringent action against those not following precautionary measures like wearing masks. We probably need to seek jail term for those flouting mask norms thrice in a row. Unless such strong deterrent measures are implemented, people will continue to be casual.”

For a start, Raja has urged BMC municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal to ensure social distancing within the BEST buses. “The BEST buses are so crowded these days with people brushing up against each other. Unless we practice strict social distancing in our own services, how can you preach to others?” questions Raja. 

About 6,796 buildings in Mumbai excluding 551 in slums and chawls continue to be sealed and earmarked as containment zones. 

Maharashtra is the worst Covid-19 affected in the country accounting for 35% of the national Covid death tally and 22% of the nation’s active cases as on September 5.