Experts call Tpr-based COVID curbs ‘unscientific’
KOZHIKODE: With public resentment reaching its peak, experts have expressed doubts over the efficacy of weekend lockdowns rather than prolonged continuous shutdowns to arrest the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
Enforcing weekend lockdown and imposing curbs on the operations of business establishments will not significantly help in containing the virus spread, according to the assessment of health experts.
The doctors at the state Directorate of Health Services, who collect and study data from the primary health centres onwards, are also of the same opinion, reports say.
They have pointed out in several meetings that decisions based on TPR are not scientific.
Dr AV Jayakrishnan, who is the chairman of the COVID-19 vaccine commitee of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kerala chapter, said that it was not particularly effective to shut business establishments on certain days.
Instead, the number of people who can be permited entry should be fixed based on the TPR of the area of the establishments, Dr Jayakrishnan said.
Rather than preventing the public from stepping out, it is the government’s duty to ensure social distancing. If 20 people atend a wedding in a small hall inside the house, there is the risk of disease spread.
Therefore, the number of atendees should be determined based on the space at the venue of the ceremony, he added.
Health expert Dr NM Arun pointed out that the practice of shuting down shops on select days in a week has been implemented only in Kerala and nowhere else in the world. As the lockdown is enforced during the weekend, the crowding increases during Mondays and Fridays. This paves way for further spread of COVID-19.
Trader community, wage earners and farm workers are up in arms against the government policy of shuting down all activity during weekends and allowing limited activities on other days.
Traders have announced their decision to open shops from Aug.9, irrespective of lockdown and other curbs. Last time they put off their resolve to open shops in a direct confrontation with the administration on the assurances given by the chief minister.
Public have begun to express their frustration and anger at the myriads curbs that are still in force even on weekdays.