Perceive new restrictions through prism of safety

This picture has been used for representational purpose

With more than 8,600 COVID cases on Thursday and new, unenviable peaks being scaled daily, the time for odious one-upmanship, the tendency to ask why me and not them, is well and truly over. One is referring to COVID-19 cases in Mumbai and the shocking attitude of people being hit by new and tighter restrictions feeling victimised or unfairly targeted.

This newspaper had some months ago warned people not to fall prey to the false and incendiary statements by several political leaders, about one religion being favoured over the other, in this pandemic. This is not about a particular religion or a particular place of worship. This is about curbing crowds in the pandemic. It is that simple.

So, are other comparisons like, if so and so, or such and such a place is open, why should we be forced to remain shut? Such an institution is open, so why should another place be forced to remain closed?

These parallels are inane and deepen bitterness, add to the thunderclouds darkening our skies today. Do not fall into the traps laid out by some who seek self-gain by winding certain sections of people to go against rules.

It is wiser to let good sense prevail, to look at upcoming restrictions, curbs or lockdowns through the right prism — that of safety. Lives are top priority now, not just of the afflicted, but every COVID frontline warrior and their relatives who suffer from tremendous anxiety with their loved ones in facilities.

Then, we have to account for an impossible strain on our health infrastructure. Look at stringent measures through good sense and logic, not coloured glasses and rhetoric spewed by those who seek to profit by turning one against the other, or those who seek to make rebels even without a cause.

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