GUWAHATI, May 8 - Expressing concern over the steady increase in the number of COVID-positive cases in the State, including Guwahati, NGO Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) has asked the government to be extremely strict in checking the transmission of the virus from the red zones.
�The State government should not have allowed migrant workers to return to the State now. We should keep in mind that the number of cases is steadily increasing and it is a cause of concern. We have to be vigilant to reduce the number of cases. In this regard, the government should be very strict in enforcing the law,� SGBG president Krishno K Borooah told The Assam Tribune.
Questioning the State government�s decision to let the overcrowded bus from Rajasthan enter the State and lack of specific measures to isolate the Ajmer Sharif returnees, the organisation stated that utmost care should be taken as the State has now entered a volatile situation.
Vice president of SGBG Ajoy Dutta stated that the government must take utmost precautionary steps and what happened with the Ajmer Sharif returnees must not be repeated.
�We appreciate the direction given by the Chief Minister to the district administrations to screen each and every person entering the State through Srirampur and Boxirhat (Chagolia). In this regard, the government should be very strict,� he added.
The organisation pointed out that according to experts the COVID-19 curve has remained relatively flat till now because of the lockdown. However, it will take an upward swing following relaxations given by the State Government.
�As pointed out by the Director of AIIMS, the infection could reach its peak in the coming months. Therefore, we should be careful that no further transmission takes place from the red zones to the orange and green zones,� the NGO stated.
Citing the example of the Great Plague of Marseille (France) in 1720, SGBG stated that the administration should learn from history. �Because of the wrong decision of the Mayor of Marseille to withdraw the quarantine period to move the goods into the city to save the economy, they moved the infection also.
�Now, our government is doing the same thing by bringing in all stranded people and allowing immigrant workers to travel to their respective states. We urge the government to close down all liquor shops and continue night curfew for three months,� it added.
