Srinagar, April 7 (GNS): National Conference on Wednesday “rued” the government’s failure to take quick and decisive steps to check the emerging second peak of COVID-19, saying the selective approach in terms of closing schools alone won’t help stop the viral sprawl.
Expressing concern over the increased viral cash load and new infections, Party Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said: “As COVID cases surge to fearsome levels across the country, the positive rates in Jammu and Kashmir are also picking up exponentially.”
Setting off a shutdown of the public, and private school system is what the government has come up with, while as government functions continue unabated, he said.
“This is not a uniform answer to the emerging situation. It is not just the gathering in schools children which is stocking community transmission of the coronavirus; the unmanaged rush at public places including parks and gardens in Kashmir is also a point of concern which the incumbent administration has conveniently overlooked. It goes without saying that the approach is flawed and inconclusive.”
Closing schools only first defies epidemiological explanation, he said.
“Practically all social activities during an outbreak of this magnitude carry risk, and determining which to cut back on requires proper calculation of risk,” he said in a statement to GNS. “The entire response to the emerging situation ought to be taken by taking all the concerned departments like health, SMC, traders, school representatives on board.”
He said the emerging situation demands a more prompt and well-thought response, not like one which the administration had up its sleeves during the previous year. “The entire exercise had only cost us our economy and education of our younger ones. However such a strategy is missing on ground, we only get to hear imprudent dicktats on a daily basis.” He said the selective approach of the government won’t help curb the spread, the need of the hour he said is to have a well planned and multi pronged strategy to fight the emerging peak which he said is imminent in wake of the indifference of the administration and d rate of new infections. “The way public rush was seen allowed at Badamwari, and the other day at tulip garden speaks volumes about the casual attitude of the administration towards the emerging situation. We cannot afford to have blanket lock down at this juncture, given the fact the people are yet to make good of the losses incurred by the rampage created by COVID-19 last year. The need of the hour calls for efforts to improve “test, track, and treatment’ policy properly, and have a plan in place to manage rush at public places, including hospitals, mosques, schools, roads. The entire matter requires the joining heads by the people who have their hands at the helm of power in Jammu and Kashmir. I hope the administration will discontinue the selective approach and come up with a more intelligent approach,” he said. (GNS)