Covid pandemic - change of working hours

The second wave is on the downside and as per experts, the third wave is in the beginning stage. Governments expressed concern about the lack of discipline among the public. 

W.r.t. organizations, some organizations are continuing work from home. Others resumed working in the official spaces. 

However, where possible, we can alter working hours so that those commuting to the workplace can travel in hours that are different from other organizations. 

Flexible hours also can be followed where possible. 

We lost so many work hours due to the pandemic in the first two stages. Governments and organizations can have tight control till the entire situation is controlled. Definitely, this pandemic will continue for few months or 1-2 years. But all efforts taken earlier will go waste if it is not followed.

Covid - regulation of information

With one year of experience, there is a lot of information on the internet and social media about cases, variants, different remedies, availability or lack of doctors, beds, oxygen cylinders, etc. The greediness of individuals and hospitals to cash on the panic is also seen.  Though this is helpful as well as harmful, as experts say, only about 6% of the affected require hospital treatment and for others, it is home isolation and treatment. Hence, there is a need for a single agency for one state for making available all necessary information. Other than this agency, others who circulate should be punished. If these are really concerned and assessed knowledgeable, such persons can be drafted in the state-controlled agency.

Government should declare and take over all medical facilities for treating covid patients, as different hospitals charge differently and exorbitantly making it difficult for poor persons. This will help in the effective utilization of hospitals and other medical facilities.

Also, the families affected with covid are under enormous psychological stress due to the information, more than the actual situation at home. 

Psychological counselling is required for those in need. A single number like that for police/ambulance/fire can be created so that these persons can be explained and counselled to reduce their panic and this will greatly help to recover also. The stressors are to be addressed in addition to medical help for quick recovery. 

Yesterday, I heard in a virtual seminar organized by the authority on the subject that one country has created an APP for dealing with stress. Those in need can use the same and get relevant information and videos to get clarified and stop worrying. I felt that this is really great work and needs to be emulated. As the information is authentic and is delivered by the state, it will also help the affected persons to believe and then follow the advice. 

Punitive enforcement for stricter compliance with guidelines for preventing spread of covid

It is seen on the roads, media in different parts of the world that the public, though are scared of getting covid virus, are not following the basic requirements, like, wearing a mask covering the nose, mouth, and chin; not maintaining the social distance of 2 m; not limiting the movements, etc.

As seen in WhatsApp videos and others, only when police chase one person, immediately those observing this are disappearing/covering with mask, etc. This shows that violations need to be dealt with with penal actions.

It is my opinion that all those violators found by police or such authorities should take photographs with violations, round them up and use them for work in covid hospitals / cleaning the roads / such works and defame them with the publishing of photos in police websites. Such persons should be herded and taken like municipal authorities chase, round them up, and take stray dogs and other animals that cause a nuisance to the public.

Even then, I do not know whether the change will come as it is human nature to say 'no' to what said by authorities 'yes'.

As an extreme step, imprisonment orders shall be given and enforced. Maybe such an extreme step will bring order in society.

Restriction of time periods for covid containment - suggestion

With the rise in covid cases, many states are going for restricted business hours. It is my opinion that this will only increase the chance of getting covid as everybody would crowd at shops/markets to make the unavoidable purchases. 

Instead, authorities may permit business hours at night times also or only during nights. This will lead to less crowding and chances of contacting covid will be less.

Similar number of covid cases - then and now - change of fear factor

Present day's covid cases are similar to those about a year ago. Even lesser, earlier. But, everyone was scared. Everyone suspected even their neighbors and stopped communicating, stopped exchanging the things that were practice before.

But, with similar cases now, hardly, anybody cares. Even the basic best practices like wearing a mask, social distancing, and sanitizer use has come down. Many are not following these practices. 

With respect to numbers, more deaths took place in road accidents, medical reasons (other than covid), etc. But, we were scared to covid and now it has become common to accept as others.

Same is true in industry. We cared less for accidents of repetitive nature, but glorified those which may not happen again. Even today we blame chemical and nuclear industries, citing Bhopal and Chernobyl mishaps, but take less care in activities like driving, construction, etc. We care more to protect that do not have value more than human life, like memorabilia, vehicles, etc.

It's all in our mind.  Though value of life is same in all cases, our perception makes us accord a different weightage, case to case.

We can truly improve and ensure safety only when we give same importance in all activities, and not accepting any unsafe act or condition.

2020: A review

This year's happenings are like those that happen once in a lifetime. It can be like those faced during world wars. With the imposition of lockdown in the country to tackle the covid pandemic, we could not go out for days together, and then we hand night curfews, limited mobility, etc. We do not have any idea about the extent to which the virus can harm. Hence, there were rifts even families about measures to be taken. 

Coming to industrial safety, with the shutdown of operations, movement of many migrant workforce to their native places, these persons suffered to reach their destination. And then the organizations too suffered due to lack of working hands. 

In some organizations, due to not following safe procedures for shutdown, emergency maintenance, or safe restart, a few incidents took place leading to loss of lives or injuries. Still, many organizations are having problems reaching the state of pre-covid. 

And, then a covid variant surfaces now, as a parting gift of the year. What comes in the new year, we have to wait and see. 

However, some benefits are also accrued as organizations tried to have work from home wherever possible, or implementation of remote work methods to avoid movement/contact and in the process reducing operational costs. 

There is a saying which goes, whatever happens, is for our good. May be present phase is also like that. Let us hope for the best.

Corona - lockdown - restricted hours of movement

Governments have imposed restricted hours to conduct personal business. In the initial days, it helped to create awareness among public about the virus, its impact and measures to be taken like, use of mask, social distancing, frequent hand wash, etc. 

Continuation of restricted hours, I feel, will lead to increased traffic on roads and crowding in shops as purchases are to be done whether lockdown is there or not. Restriction of hours of business will only lead to all the public who would have done shopping/movement spread in the time period, say 0600-2300 hr to those limited hours. It may be worthwhile to permit shops to be opened 24 hr whomsoever are willing. This can reduce crowds and social distancing can be better.