People flout Covid protocols, run regular biz pushing positive cases to new high in Raj

By Archana Sharma

Jaipur, Nov 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rajasthan, which was once being lauded for its effective containment of the Covid 19 hotspots, is witnessing a steep rise in Covid cases as the suspects have been operating their shops and businesses regularly, pushing the cumulative positive cases to a new high.

Arun (name changed), a medical shop owner, had his wife and children tested Covid positive but he was seen sitting at his shop selling medicines, steamers and various drugs regularly to other patients.

When asked why he has not quarantined himself, he said, "This is a chain which started a month back and is still continuing in my home; initially my wife was infected, when she turned negative, my son tested positive and now my daughter is Covid positive. I can't think of sitting idle inside my home for over a month and not doing anything as tests, CT scans and other such diagnosis have already added more to my regular expenses."

He is not the only one. A garment seller died in Jaipur due to lung infection. A week before his death, he and his sons were attending to customers at their shop.

"My father died due to lung infection. As the season changed, he contracted a cold. It took a turn for the worse and he passed away," his son said.

Other shopkeepers in the locality said that the family hid the information and did not reveal his real Covid status.

The stories of people flouting the Covid 19 protocols do not end here.

There are many patients who are not going for testing but are simply following the prescriptions being circulated on WhatsApp while continuing their regular routine.

Monica (name changed), who runs a kids garment shop, has been regularly attending to her customers despite having a cough and cold. She has also been taking the drugs prescribed by doctors which include azithral 500 mg, zincovit and limcee for the last four days.

"Will take these medicines for five days and shall be ok," she said.

IANS contacted CMHO Narottam Sharma in this context and he said, "People have been coming to us after five days of testing positive. We have to tell them that their quarantine period is 14 days so don't come to us before 14 days for another test."

People, it seems, have lost their senses and hence are adopting this approach, he said when IANS informed him of such suspects who have been running their regular business despite having Covid positive patients at home. "We are adopting random sampling and those caught shall be acted against strongly," he added.

On Tuesday, the state had 3314 cases out of which 656 cases were reported from Jaipur, on November 23, 3232 cases were reported from Rajasthan out of which 599 were from Jaipur, on November 22, 3260 Covid cases were reported.

Health Minister Raghu Sharma said on Monday that the state is registering over 3,000 Covid-19 cases daily for the past few days, calling it a second peak of coronavirus in the state.

Taking precautions is the only way to save oneself from this pandemic, Sharma said, adding that there are many reasons for the spike in the number of Covid cases. Municipal corporation polls, panchayat polls, weather change, festivals and marriage season are a few of them. People have also been careless due to which Covid-19 is spreading, he added.

Source: IANS