LAHORE: “Social distancing” is the buzzword these days to protect oneself from the scourge of coronavirus and most people are restricted to homes and using all kinds of masks, gloves and sanitisers before moving out.

The Punjab government top functionaries -- the governor, the chief minister and the chief secretary -- are working day in and day out to ensure protection of the general public but, people say, they hardly seem to be cautious in their own activities including meetings.

The spokespersons for the Punjab government and Governor’s House, however, say that all precautionary measures are being taken before any event or meeting takes place.

It’s an appalling sight, as people point out, that a crowd including law officers and officials had gathered at the Governor’s House to attend the Lahore High Court chief justice’s oath-taking ceremony on March 19. After the ceremony, they were seen rubbing shoulders – on TV screens.

On Thursday, Governor Chaudhry Sarwar held a meeting with the ulema of all schools of thought. At the final announcement ceremony, the governor was seen standing with the ulema without maintaining a safe distance of one meter in between every participant as being pleaded to be observed by every segment of society.

A picture of ulema with the governor was also released by the Governor’s House.

Similarly, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar is holding meetings with the provincial ministers, administrative secretaries and other officials at chief minister’s secretariat, inaugurating awareness campaign “Stay Home, Stay Safe” in the secretariat’s courtyard along with a minister and other officials but without any mask or gloves.

People also objected to it seeing the chief minister inspecting the new quarantine facility set up at UET’s Kala Shah Kaku campus without any mask or gloves.

The Governor’s House spokesman said all protective measures were being taken at all meetings and added that the secretariat was working with minimum staff requirement.

“It is a very important time when the governor is putting in all his efforts and not leaving any stone unturned in fight against coronavirus and safety of people,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said masks and hand sanitisers were being used by the governor and all the staff. He said hand washing units were also available and in use.

A Punjab government spokesman said the crowd gathering after the LHC CJ oath-taking had given a wrong message to the masses.

With regard to the chief minister’s meetings and activities, the spokesman said the chief minister office was already working with essential 20 per cent staff and added that a team was monitoring all employees by thermal scanning as well as ensuring use of sanitisers.

“The chief minister is not being exposed to many people,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the government was discouraging official meetings with personal presence and opting more and more for video-link meetings.

Referring to the chief minister’s visit to see the quarantine facility at the UET KSK campus, the spokesman said there was no patient in the centre at that time so there was no need to wear the mask and take other protective measures.

As doctors, nurses and paramedics were working as frontline workers, the spokesman said the law and health ministers as well as some officers including the chief secretary, the IG police, administrative secretaries of health, food and industries were working hard to ensure that people should not face any problems.

“Some officers will have to come forward and fight at the frontline,” the spokesman said.

“We are purposely not running chief minister’s pictures wearing masks because it would create panic and people may come out to demand masks,” the spokesman added.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2020