With the pandemic in full-flow, it\'s no time to party

For some high-fliers the party hasn’t stopped despite the coronavirus pandemic. A Hyderabad jeweller who threw a lavish birthday bash attended by at least 100 people died of COVID-19 on Saturday. This is not the first such event, since India began unlocking.

In Bihar, a wedding ceremony in rural Patna on June 15 set off the biggest coronavirus infection chain so far, and the groom was among those who died while around a 100 were infected.
In May, a Hyderabad shop owner threw a party after which 45 tested positive in May.

In Tamil Nadu, a DMK man who organised a bash for his birthday in Thiruvallur district on June 14 has tested positive for Coronavirus along with three guests.

It may be recalled, singer Kanika Kapoor’s Lucknow party in March exposed several to the coronavirus.

Why are people finding it so difficult to act in accordance with containment demands? Don’t they realise how their actions can affect others?
These are classic examples of the misplaced belief that ‘Nothing will happen to me’. Sanjay Gulabani, chairman, P. Mangatram Jewellers, says,

“Each one of us needs to act responsibly. For the economy to not get further beaten out of shape, the lockdown was relaxed. The purpose of the lockdown was to create awareness and get people ready to adapt to the new codes. It is up to us to be judicious in protecting our health,” he pointed out.

“There was general carelessness and apathy towards the problem,” feels Uday Pilani, entrepreneur and investor, who owns hotels in the UK, as well as the FinTech and Management Consulting company in India.

“The Agarwal Marwadi Samaj now has over a thousand affected. The thing is that the recovery rate is excellent, so they are losing fear,” he adds.

It’s been difficult to curb the jet-setting crowd from organising parties and society events. “Now is not the time to show your status; it’s time to show responsibility. The vast majority of the people who are defying calls for social distancing are not realising that it’s not about just them... it’s about taking a risk with their families and friends as well. It’s time we all get responsible and accept that precaution is better than cure,” says Madhu Jain, an entrepreneur.

While the world’s scientists are working towards finding a cure and vaccines for COVID-19, we need to take all preventive measures, feels Bina Mehta, another entrepreneur.

“Social distancing will only ‘flatten the curve’. Let us all understand and respect our own lives and value others’ lives too. It is a sin to invite people to events, and an even bigger sin to be part of any event,” says Bina.

Life doesn’t have to stop because of the Coronavirus, but it’s smart to re-evaluate priorities, feels entrepreneur Vinod Ranka,. “I was invited to few parties and weddings, but I declined the invitations,” he says, giving an example of how priorities should change.