Vishakhapatanam: Large congregations of people at tourist spots and beach fronts shocked the health officials, who have repeatedly warned about the impending third wave of Covid-19.
On Sunday there was no space at RK Beach, Tenneti Park and other places on the beach front which had witnessed people jostling with each other to find a space to sit and relax. The entire beach road from Coast Battery to Park Hotel junction was packed with vehicles and there were traffic jams at many places which were cleared by the police personnel.
“What worried us most was people were not wearing masks and conversing with each other as if the virus had gone for good,’’ said District Medical and Health Officer Dr P. Suryanarayana.
He told DC on Monday that the parents also brought their children after knowing that four children were infected with virus and underwent treatment at King George Hospital very recently.
The DMHO warned that even two doses of vaccine might not protect the people from infection. Around 45 per cent of Vizag population have been administered with vaccines since the beginning of the year, he said.
Another health official said hordes of people were travelling in cars and they were seen buying food items from maskless vendors on the beach road.
He said that the crowds were also seen on working days as he saw many people on the beach road and shopping malls on Monday.
The retired official said the centre had already announced that the third wave might hit in August and reach in September. Even this announcement was not deterring people from travelling carelessly.
Meanwhile, the district collector V. Vinay Chand held a review meeting with the health officials and asked them to impose Covid-19 protocols among the people. He said people not wearing masks should be fined Rs 100 and shops and business establishments Rs 25,000 for violations.
