Kolkata: Covid care network takes to cycle rally appealing Puja revellers to celebrate festival at home

KOLKATA: It was a cycle rally with

Covid-19 awareness messages

that part of Kolkata witnessed on Thursday. Volunteers of Covid Care Network (CCN) rode from

Kamalgazi

Mor to

Jadavpur

8B bus stand – about eight kilometres – carrying messages that people need to stay indoors as much as possible during this

Durga Puja festival

and abide by Covid-19 preventive protocols like mask and hand hygiene.

“If we forgo all the health norms that can minimise the risk of getting infected we are not only putting ourselves in danger but endangering others too specially the elderly at home,” said Hepatologist Abhijit Chowdhury.

“We from CCN appeal to people to celebrate the puja at home this year and not in puja pandals,” he added

Chowdhury who is also a mentor of CCN himself was one among those who mounted on a bicycle for the rally. With a constant rise in Covid-19 positive cases and the apprehension of a sharp surge after the Durga puja, the medical fraternity fears healthcare system to be under tremendous pressure.

“It is symbolic rally where we want to tell people that puja this year is under extraordinary situations due to the pandemic and we need to stay indoors as much as possible. And mask is a must when one comes out of home,” said

Parthasarathi Mukherjee

, public health activist of CCN.

The organisation now has presence in 10 districts. Similar activities are being organised in the other districts so that people stay away from crowd congregations during the Durga puja.

“Please do not congregate. We are obliged with the orders of

Calcutta high court

for restricted puja this year,” said Arindam, another executive member of CCN.

The organisation formed by healthcare professionals, activists, recovered Covid-19 patients and their family members have been working towards educating the mass on coronavirus awareness.

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