The government may have to take some tough calls soon

Photo for representational purpose. Picture Courtesy/iStock

Delhi is shutting down partially due to the COVID situation, sounding what is known as a yellow alert in the Capital.

This means a complete closure of educational institutions, odd-even rule for shops and malls with non-essential services, cinemas, multiplexes, banquet halls and auditoriums to be fully closed in view of the rising Coronavirus cases.

Delhi faced a devastating second wave surge. We surely recall all the accounts of the desperate search for oxygen and hospital beds, and the many who perished there, like they did in other states, too, during the second wave.

Mumbai may have to start looking at emulating Delhi, with the city breaching the 1,000-cases mark on Tuesday.

There have been certain guidelines and restrictions that have been issued by the BMC, especially for the New Year, but the city may now need to bring down the shutters harder, even if for a while.

The authorities need to start thinking about whether we need to go the Delhi way or do we need to wait and see what the current scenario spells for the megapolis.

We have some reports trickling in about how this wave is going to affect many more when it comes to numbers, but the severity may be less. Does our government need to take that into account, or cannot take any chances? These are tough choices and the uncertainty of the pandemic has taught us there is no absolutely right response.

Yet, the only thing that works that is spot on in such a situation is precautions and preparedness. With that in mind, we may have to work with stricter measures, and take tougher decisions as we oscillate between safety and livelihood. Delhi has taken some very tough calls and may have inadvertently set a template for Maharashtra, too.