Take a lesson from last year, cooperate better this time

This picture has been used for representational purpose

Messages and advisories are raining down as we see the swell of the Covid-19 third wave approaching. Some of these are sound; ‘precautions not panic' is one of them. Yet another does say that a large part of stopping the spread, or at least containing it to some extent, depends on ordinary people following Covid-19 protocol.

Among all the advisory, information and opinion, we hear several buildings across the city have been sealed. High-rises have been sealed; slum areas have become containment zones. We want to see complete adherence as a building gets sealed. During early last year, when cases had surged, we reported several confrontations and extremely combative situations between building residents, and at times building society members and committees of several housing societies.

This had led to some terribly fractious times. Several residents had broken rules, others had stepped out without finishing quarantine. There were arguments, and several escalated into real fights about lift usage. Domestic helps were another huge point of charges and counter charges flying between building members.

We can only think that lessons have been learned and we see a smoother road for residents across. One does know what a mental toll this pandemic has taken, and in fact, is continuing to take even as fatigue and frustration has set in. Do not exacerbate things for those around you and most of all yourselves, within buildings. Instead, a spirit of cooperation is needed to sail these turbulent waters even as we hope the impending storm never arrives.

Let us look back, and see if we can change all those flashpoints into mature exchanges and responsible actions and reactions. As cases in buildings zoom, residential societies need to work as one cohesive, accountable unit, responding adequately to what this new outbreak surge brings on.