LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Self policing is needed to contain COVID-19

After the resurgence and recurrence of COVID-19 in the sultanate, government authorities under the dynamic leadership of His Majesty the Sultan are leaving no stone unturned to do their best to address this pandemic. They are putting in everything needed to contain it, with due impetus given by reminding, alerting and cautioning people of the country to follow all mandatory guidelines as individuals by bringing awareness through media, bill boards, NGOs, etc.

But are we as responsible residents falling in line, reading the writing on the wall; following in true letter and spirit, to help ourselves, our families, colleagues and society?

I doubt as experienced by what is seen and felt. The minister concerned has been on record giving a clarion call on the need to follow simple precautions like wearing masks, maintaining social distance, avoiding gatherings and non-essential travel and taking hygienic steps like using sanitisers. Having seen the gravity of this global pandemic in the last six months and specifically in Oman (100,000 cases and 1,000 deaths), it is high time for us to act.

Despite restrictions, private gatherings in farms and halls, partying on beaches and homes, turning a Nelson's eye to maintaining social distancing especially in vegetal shopping areas in malls have been going on.

If one takes a cursory look in the Ruwi Highstreet area in late evenings, it is not uncommon to find some people smoking or sipping soft drinks by slipping the mask under their chin. When they sneeze, they spread cough droplets to the people in their vicinity. With aerosol transmission of coronavirus being the most accepted worldwide, this is a real hazard that some ignore.

We can’t expect the government to police each and every person. There can’t be surveillance for every person and violation. We all have a responsibility towards ourselves and the nation that is offering us our daily bread, especially the expatriate residents.

Let us respect these human values and be responsible.

Dr Bhaskara Rao

Ruwi