essay on covid warriors
Answers
Explanation:
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by a storm. In the fight against this pandemic, India had announced a 21-day lockdown on March 24, 2020. As the lockdown period drew to an end on April 14, 2020, the Prime Minister of India addressed the nation and announced a 19-day extension of that lockdown. This move was introduced in an effort to 'break the chain' of transmission of the virus and enforce social distancing amongst the citizens.
The guidelines for the nationwide lockdown rule that each citizen must remain at home except for emergencies. As the whole nation is shut down and the state borders remain sealed, only essential services are plying. While stepping out for essentials is allowed, people are advised to maintain at least one-meter distance, wear masks and use alcohol-based sanitizer. In order to ensure and enforce social distancing, the warriors at the forefront have been the local police forces and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
During his address, PM Modi also requested each citizen of the country to extend their support and respect for the COVID-19 warriors such as health workers, sanitation workers, police forces and security personnel who are selflessly at the forefront in the fight against this outbreak.
Additionally, the central government recently announced an insurance cover package worth Rs. 50 lakhs for healthcare workers who may contract the virus while they are on duty. While some states and union territories like Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have also come out with insurance packages for another important section of front line workers, the central government is yet to do so. In the fight against COVID-19, more than 100 policemen have been tested positive for the infection while four policemen have lost their lives and the number is expected to rise.
Across the nation, the security forces have been active round-the-clock in full capacity. They are not only deployed on the ground but also in containment zones and hotspots, bus stops and hospitals. Unfortunately, despite efforts on the part of the forces to procure enough safety equipment, there have been reported shortages. It is important to note that the risk to policemen is not just to those on-duty but also to their families, which include young children and aged parents.
While these men in uniform selflessly choose to put their lives at risk, their families remain at home living their lives in doubt and fear. Many state police departments have arranged for personnel to stay in police training institutes and stations to limit their exposure to families, but not all personnel on duty can be accommodated in these facilities. In fact, many security personnel have chosen to maintain distance from their families even while at home and confine themselves to cordoned areas.
The forces have found several entertaining ways to reach out to the public and impart them the right messages. This new avatar of the forces is far from the typical image of the high-handed enforcer of the law and order. Sub-Inspector (SI) Harjeet Singh of Punjab Police has emerged as a shining symbol of the nation’s fight against the coronavirus.
In an effort to connect to the public, the Punjab Police partnered with digital marketing firm DesignBoxed. They came up with creative videos that have animation of policemen performing traditional Punjabi dance Bhangra, posting memes as well as doing live sessions with officers explaining the dos and don’ts. Punjab Police has also opened an account on the famous video sharing app Tik-Tok in order to spread awareness. Their videos have garnered more than 50 million views within 10 days. Similarly, Kerala Police has also come out with a hand washing dance in order to promote best practices while Gujarat policewomen used their traditional dance Garba to reiterate the message of social distancing.
Bengaluru and Mumbai Police are also doing their part for society in innovative ways with unique themed helmets, special drives and messages. In Chennai, a police inspector, wore a specially constructed coronavirus helmet while stopping vehicles and pedestrians at checkpoints. Another police officer in Indore was seen dressed up in a ghost-themed attire while Andhra Pradesh Police used a horse painted with images of COVID-19 to stop people from breaching guidelines.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).