unday was meant to be the day which would witness show of gratitude towards frontline warriors fighting against the scourge of coronavirus in the country. These include healthcare workers including doctors, nursing staff, ambulance drivers, ward staff, fighting against Covid-19.
Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters showered flower petals over hospitals to show the country’s gratitude towards the work done by these doctors and healthcare workers in the fight against coronavirus.
However, at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, the biggest government hospital in Rajasthan, even as this show of gratitude continued, the norms of physical and social distancing were completely forgotten.
A large gathering of people, which included Rajasthan Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma, Rohit Kumar Singh, the Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rajasthan and various other senior officials and doctors were visible in clear violation of social and physical distancing norms. All of this happened inside the Sawai Man Singh Hospital premises.
The crowd of people included Rajasthan Health Minister, various doctors, nursing staff, various officials and media members.
Rohit Kumar Singh, the Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rajasthan, when questioned about physical and social distancing norms being flouted told India Today that people tend to make small mistakes in a mood of excitement.
“See, it is a matter of great joy right now that the Indian Air Force has showered petals. So, I think in the mood of excitement, people tend to make small mistakes. But I think everybody is wearing a mask, so that is probably good enough,” Singh said.
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However, as such a large crowd had gathered inside the Sawai Man Singh Hospital which included the Rajasthan Health Minister and senior bureaucrats, one wonders why no attempt was made by the authorities to ensure that norms of social and physical distancing were followed.
