Citizens throng markets as ‘game-changer’ lockdown lifted

Markets, shopping plazas and thoroughfares were crowded on Monday as the metropolis awakened from a nine-day slumber. Coronavirus vaccination centres (CVCs), which had witnessed an influx of citizens during the 'partial lockdown' imposed by the Sindh government, remained vacant after Covid curbs were relaxed.

"The virus [appears to have] left the city within a few hours," said Khalil Ahmed, a shopkeeper at one of the city's busiest bazaars in Saddar. Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said people were thronging the markets amid fears that the government may enforce another lockdown. "There is uncertainty but the rush in the markets suggests there is no virus."

Despite strict instructions issued by the government, a negligible percentage of citizens were observed wearing face masks or maintaining social distance. In most areas even the shopkeepers were without facemasks.

"This is an irresponsible attitude - both by the government and the citizens," remarked Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi Secretary Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro. "The [Delta] variant hasn't gone away. It's still there," he warned, adding that lifting the lockdown and opening all markets was an unfavorable decision taken by the government.

Dr Shoro said that he observed on Monday that citizens were violating coronavirus-mandated standard operating procedures (SOPs) and not a single official was on the roads to ensure implementation. "Why did the government impose a ban for a week?" he asked.

Empty CVCs

Meanwhile, the CVCs which had seen long queues in the past week appeared abandoned on the first day after restrictions were relaxed. Only a few citizens could be spotted at most centres in the city.

Read More: Crackdown against SOP violations

"The rush has reduced drastically," said Dr Bushra, a senior staffer at Khaliq Dina Hall. "The rush is less than 50 per cent than what it was on Sunday." Markets have reopened and a majority of citizens have resumed their jobs, she reasoned, however. This could be why the crowd has dwindled, she said, adding that the centre is located in the old city area. "I think the night shift will be full."

A similar situation was observed in other parts of the city. "All of a sudden the number of visitors has gone down," said Dr Kiran, a staffer at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre CVC. "There were long queues [last week] but look at how it is now," she said gesturing at the almost empty centre.

Her colleague at the CVC of the view that citizens had rushed for inoculations for two reasons during the lockdown. "Offices and markets were closed so citizens got enough time to get vaccinated. The second reason was the fear of blocked mobile sims."

Meanwhile, some citizens were relieved that the inoculation process could move smoothly and swiftly now that the crowds were thinning. "I came to this centre twice last week but went back because of the long lines. It's empty today and I am happy that I got the dose without too much waiting," said Bashir Ahmed, a visitor at the JPMC centre.

Another citizen, who hailed from Punjab's Vehari town, noted that there was greater urgency for vaccinations in Sindh. "It's compulsory to have the vaccination card as we enter Sindh," said Ajmal Ahmed, adding that the situation in Punjab was not so strict. "No one ever asked about vaccination in my province." It took him hardly 10 minutes to get his first jab, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2021.