Doctors have word of Covid caution for Puja gatherings

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, SILIGURI, 6 OCTOBER 21 : Doctors and health activists have appealed to people to avoid 'large gatherings' during the Durga Puja celebrations to avert a spurt in Covid-19 cases after the festivities.

The medical fraternity belonging to 'Protect The Warriors', an initiative launched by the United Doctors' Welfare Association, has urged revellers not to disregard the Covid safety protocols. PTW is an umbrella organisation of doctors with around 2000 members across the state.

"We have lost almost 4.6 million people all over the world, including frontline workers, as a direct or indirect effect of this pandemic. The second wave has brought the onus of too many untimely deaths of young individuals, as a result, thousands of children have lost either one of their parents, or both. Now, Durga Puja is round the corner, but let us vow to show resilience as we have shown during thetas[ one, both from the puja committees and the general population. People should abide by the Covid safety -protocols. We are requesting people to get vaccinated in due time. Do not drop your guard-keep wearing masks, avoid large gatherings, abide by the health department instructions during the festival," said PTW secretary and senior ENT consultant and head & neck surgeon Dr Abhik Ghosh.

The medics, who remain most vulnerable to Covid-19, warned any laxity in maintaining health protocols during the festival could lead to a disaster.

Several doctors and health workers have succumbed to Covid-19 since April last year.

The Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Randeep Guleria, has also appealed on Friday that people should remain alert and vigilant during the festive season.

Durga Puja is the most-eagerly awaited festival in the state that involves the participation and movement of large crowds. The state government has issued a set of Covid-19 guidelines that the puja organizers need to mandatorily follow to manage the crowd.

Like the previous year, no visitor will be allowed inside a pandal, which should be spacious and open for free airflow across the structure.

According to Sayan Chowdhury, the treasurer of the College Para Puja Committee in Siliguri, they were setting up a sanitisation tunnel and would arrange for adequate masks. Their puja is turning 71 this year.

"We will not allow visitors without masks. A handful members of puja organising committee members inside the marquee and the priest will be fully inoculated," he said.

The words of caution come from realisation that if people are not compliant and indulge in reckless celebrations, the situation may turn worse or spin out of control after the festival. Doctors have stressed that self discipline and responsible behavior could help prevent a rise in Covid cases.

"The anticipation of the third wave of Covid-19 is undoubtedly suffocating. Above everything else, we have to hold the hand of science. Patience, adherence to universal precautionary measures and vaccination are the keys to win against the virus," Dr Ghosh said.

Many Covid-19 patients across India ran out of medical oxygen during the peak phase "India's second Covid-19 wave in April-May.

"We cannot forget the unprecedented crisis of medical oxygen demand, supply mismatch, along with enormous pressure of the huge population on a limited number of hospital beds that had left us painfully numb. We have seen the nightmarish views of people dying on the

streets gasping for breath, when funeral pyres burned non-stop and bodies littered the banks of the Ganga. No one of us ever imagined that the second wave would leave a scar so deep and ugly on mankind. It is now entirely up to people to check the spread of the pandemic by taking precautions. They have to be careful and cannot drop their guard even for a moment," said a public health specialist.

Meanwhile, the number of admission of Covid patients is gradually rising at the North Bengal Medical College and hospital (NBMCH). Authorities said 11 patients were admitted on 3 October, while it was 12 on 4 October, 16 on 5 October and 17 today.

"The Covid-19 protocol went for a toss as there has been a tremendous crowd for pre Durga Puja shopping. Many people are not wearing masks, paying no heed to physical distance. It remains a concern whether that will lead to a spurt. Everyone should wear masks and follow the physical distancing norms," said NBMCH Superintendent Dr Sanjay Mallik.