Ahmedabad, which was a COVID-19 hotspot when the pandemic started spreading in Gujarat, is now paying the price for not maintaining social distancing.
A day after releasing a video, shot without people’s knowledge, in which they were seen crowding and in several cases not wearing masks, Ahmedabad municipal corporation has decided not to allow any shops to remain open after 10pm in 27 major areas of the city, with immediate effect. The only exception will be medical stores.
"From the last 10-15 days, many instances have come to the notice of the municipal corporation that youths do not wear masks. They gather in groups and do not follow social distancing norms. These types of activities are seen in particular areas of the city, especially during night time," the AMC said in a release.
"These youths spread coronavirus infection to their parents and grand-parents as well as to children and other family members. Their family members have to pay the price for their negligence. Recently, cases of hospital admission due to coronavirus have increased," the release said.
Majority of the areas in which restrictions have been put in place are in the western part of the city.
A couple of days ago, Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association had said 90 per cent of COVID19 beds in private hospitals are occupied. Dr Bharat Ghadvi, president of the association, had also said most of the ventilators are occupied.
He had attributed this to rising number of cases and said while in the beginning of June, the city had 2,800 active cases, currently there are more than 3,800 cases.
Dr. Ghadvi had also observed that a large number of people from outside Ahmedabad are coming to the city for treatment. This, according to him, is also creating a problem.
(With PTI inputs)
