Shoppers openly disobey social distancing norms

● TELANGANA STATE is about to enter the third stage of the Covid-19 epidemic which is community transmission, when the disease spreads in public and the source of the spread cannot be traced.

Flagrantly disregarding social distancing, all over the city markets, people are behaving as if there is no global pandemic any more.

Despite the accelerating numbers of Covid-19 cases in the city, people are seen without masks, crowds in market places. On Sunday the Nampally market was packed to capacity.

Md Iqbal., a chicken shop owner at the market, said “Today there were a lot of customers. Following government instructions, we marked social distancing lines but the customers don’t listen to us even if we keep on telling them.”

Suman Mukta, jewellery shop owner, said “The government did its best to stop this pandemic from spreading, it also brought to everyone’s notice that social distancing is must, but if people are still being reckless, what can be done?”

Telangana state is about to enter the third stage of the Covid-19 epidemic which is community transmission, when the disease spreads in public and the source of the spread cannot be traced.

This phase is marked by geographically restricted hot zones. Members of the community start developing the disease.

On Sunday as per the health bulletin 41 positive cases have been recorded. As we can see from the past few days, the number count of positive has been on the rise.

Murlidhar K., a registered medical practitioner, said, “People are refusing to follow fundamental precautions during the pandemic. Mainstream media has been trying to educate the general public. The government has to look for an alternative to educate them.”

He added, however, “Then again, if the government imposes strict enforcements, many people will lose their livelihoods.”