Rise in Covid-19 cases due to people’s irresponsible behaviour: Harsh Vardhan

NEW DELHI: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan attributed the sharp increase in India’s Covid-19 cases to the irresponsible behaviour of the people after the unlock process was initiated and the false sense that the country had conquered the pandemic.

In his reply to a discussion on Covid-19 in Lok Sabha on Sunday, Harsh Vardhan said, “If you see in our country there has been a sudden increase in cases, many of our MPs have also got Covid-19. This is because of irresponsible behaviour of the people. Since the time, the government allowed unlocking, people have thought that we have won the war against Covid-19. We need to follow very simple behaviour to curb the spread of Covid – wearing a mask, not touch our nose, face and mouth, washing our hands frequently and maintaining two feet distance. As I have often said – this behaviour is our social vaccine till we develop a vaccine.”

The health minister elaborated on the responsibilities of public representatives in time of Covid. “I would appeal to all of us here that we need to set an example and ensure that people in our area follow Covid appropriate behaviour. We should all go to the field and ensure that wherever our constituents are not following proper Covid protocols, we persuade them to follow the norms,” he said adding, “It is not a long road in our fight against Covid if we follow this. The virus cannot survive in the air. It transmits from one person to another. If we break this chain of transmission, we will be able to win this fight.”