Wave Of Complacency: Markets Let Masks Slip

FESTIVE TIME: Omicron Threat Becomes Bigger, But So Do Crowds

- Siddhanta Mishra

New Delhi: Markets across Delhi are getting crowded, but on Friday, as on most days, the shoppers were seen either without masks or not wearing them properly and there was a complete disregard for social distancing. It was as if people hadn’t considered the risks posed by the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of the Covid coronavirus.

At Sarojini Nagar market, the stores and food stalls were surrounded by jostling crowds. “Mask? I have one. No problem, I will wear it,” laughed Ashok, a vendor, taking it out from his pocket when TOI wondered why he wasn’t wearing one. Ironically, he was selling chaat just below the speakers from where continuous announcements were being blared about Covid-19 protocols, including mandatory use of masks.

Ashok wasn’t the only one who was daring the coronavirus. “I am sorry, I just finished eating and forgot to put it back on,” said architect Amit Jain, who had come with a friend to shop. “We know there is a threat, we will keep that in mind.”

Ashok Randhawa, president, Sarojini Nagar Mini Market Traders’ Association, resignedly said, “The hawkers are a big problem. They don’t wear masks even when pointed out to them. We can only request them. Enforcing rules is the job of the police and Civil Defence personnel. As for shoppers, they follow the norms as per their own comfort.”

A Delhi Police constable claimed that the 10 policemen deployed in Sarojini Nagar booked people for contravening the guidelines, but added that enforcing social distancing in a marketplace wasn’t easy.