Maharashtra: 88.23% of five-month COVID-19 tally recorded in March
Maharashtra added 6,51,513 COVID-19 cases in March this year, which accounts for 88.23 percent of the total number of cases reported in the previous five-month period, according to official data. Between October 1 last year and February 28, 2021, the state recorded 7,38,377 cases of coronavirus. The data shows the increased pace of viral infection in March 2021 compared to previous months.
People are not following COVID-19-appropriate behavior
One of the main reasons for it is that people are not following COVID-19-appropriate behavior, experts say. Many people are not maintaining social distance and are not wearing masks, exposing themselves to the infection, they say.
Fine amounts for not following COVID-19 protocol might increase
There have been several discussions among state officials and ministers about increasing the fine amount for people not following the guidelines of COVID-19, especially not wearing masks. "It could put some pressure, but the government does not want to use an iron fist to ensure people adhere to the guidelines," a member of the state COVID-19 task force told PTI.
We cannot stop people from traveling, says task force member
However, another senior state health official said people cannot be pressurized after a certain limit. "The labor class (low-income group) in the state is desperate to go out to work. The same is the situation with micro, small and medium industries. They are labor-dominated sectors and we cannot stop people from traveling," a member of the state COVID-19 task force said.
Everyone has their own view of hygiene: Official
Another government health official said, "Hygiene is a delicate and lifestyle-related issue and its definition varies from person to person. People get irritated if you insist on washing hands every time they go out of their workplace or office."
Constant fear around hygiene leading to psychological complications
Notably, World Health Organization has stated that hand washing is an effective tool to prevent COVID-19. "It is the case of either an utmost level of hygiene or nothing. One incident of delaying washing hands or not covering the face sufficiently can lead to the coronavirus infection," the official said. "But, living under such constant fear leads to other psychological complications," another official said.
Even those following guidelines become careless later
"We have observed people following COVID-19-appropriate behavior for one week to three weeks and later becoming careless. That is the time when they catch the infection," she said. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a letter to Maharashtra's chief secretary recently pointed out similar reasons.
People should be ready for stringent measures: Tope
Bhushan had also expressed the need for surveillance of such COVID-19 patients who do not follow home quarantine protocols. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had recently said people should be ready for stringent measures in the coming days to curb the spread of COVID-19 and that imposing a lockdown is the last option for the state government.
