SOPs ignored at Karachi's crowded beaches

Beach huts run out of space as people throw precaution to wind

KARACHI:

When the Sindh government lifted a prolonged lockdown earlier this month, keeping in view the declining cases of Covid-19, government representatives, ministers and health experts continued to stress that the end of the lockdown didn't signify the end of the pandemic. Moreover, they persistently appealed to people to continue observing the pandemic-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

However, their appeals seemed to be falling on deaf ears. Scores of citizens flocked to the beaches in Karachi, throwing all precautions to wind, just a week after the lockdown was lifted.

While pictures of people crowding Sea View beach on Independence Day left many anxious, fearing that the disregard for precautions would give rise to another wave of the virus, many made their way to Hawkes Bay and Paradise Point early on Sunday morning. While they travelled to the beaches in cars and buses, the city saw many of its roads getting choked with heavy traffic.

The situation was no different at the beaches themselves - they ran out of the parking space for vehicles.

Meanwhile, the huts at these picnic points, too, seemed to have fallen short of space to accommodate all the picnickers.

Many among the visitors told The Express Tribune that they had planned a trip to the beach as soon as the government relaxed the lockdown, since they had been deprived of the leisure - the only affordable source of recreation in the city for several families - for a long time.

The picnickers paid little heed to the announcements by policemen and rescue workers, warning them against foraying too deep into the water. They were deployed at recreational spots to deal with any emergencies that may occur.

The Sindh government had imposed a restriction on visiting beaches in the wake of the coronavirus breakout. The ban on visiting the city's beaches remained in place for around five months and was lifted last week, albeit with the advice that citizens adhere to SOPs.

However, few people followed the advisory.

According to police personnel deployed at these recreational spots, the crowd that turned up at the metropolis' beaches was huge and all huts, even those in dilapidated conditions, were occupied.

Warnings and pleas

Earlier, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazl Pechuho had urged the public to continue to exercise precaution and observe the standard operating procedures devised in connection with the pandemic, despite the government lifting the lockdown.

In a video statement, the health minister said that lifting the lockdown did not mean that the coronavirus had been eradicated and observing SOPs was still necessary. She underlined that the lockdown had been lifted keeping in view the economic difficulties faced by a large section of society and not because the pandemic had ended.

"The virus still exists," she said, appealing to people to continue wearing masks, only step outside when necessary and wash hands regularly, while taking other precautionary measures.

These views have been echoed by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and many others.

On the plus side

However, while the looming health hazard in the face of citizens crowding beaches stares right in the face, there is an upside to the situation too.

Many daily wagers and others who had been suffering financial losses due to slowed down economic activity were able to revive their businesses and earnings with the end to the lockdown.

Police officials told The Express Tribune that the increased demand for huts at beaches gave the guards of even dilapidated structures the chance to demand higher rents.

Camel and horse owners offering rides to beach goers were also able to begin earning after a long hiatus of five months, and so were shop and hotel owners in the area.

Similarly, citizens complained of transporters demanding higher fares, while pointing out that roads leading to most beaches were in decrepit condition and authorities needed to address the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2020.