Hope FIR acts as a deterrent to potential Covidiots

This picture has been used for representational purpose

A report in this newspaper stated that a COVID positive man from Chembur was slapped with an FIR after he was found roaming about freely in the area, blatantly flouting quarantine rules. While his entire family had been quarantined after testing positive, he had visited a local gymkhana, potentially infecting a few others.

The report states that his family members, too, were uncooperative, which forced the local health worker to report the man to the police.

The FIR clearly demonstrates the seriousness of the authorities in tackling the current situation - which is the soaring number of positive cases - with the strictness it deserves and the general public's lack of civic sense and community spirit.

Despite the welcome suggestion of scientists and other medical experts of people developing herd immunity if they test positive, the fact remains that all those who test positive are potential spreaders.
While one may be asymptomatic, others one may come in contact with may have compromised immunities and the virus may even cause their death.

Is this what we want to live with? The death of an innocent person on our heads? That person could even be a member of one's own family or a dear friend.

It goes without saying that wilfully doing something that could potentially take someone's life amounts to murder. There is no escaping this fact.

The FIR filed is under sections of wilfully trying to spread a disease that is dangerous to others and of disobeying rules laid down by a government authority.

The sections attract a minimum six-month jail term. There is no bigger shame than spending time behind prison bars and one hopes this FIR acts as a deterrent to those who think the COVID-19 threat is over.