TPCC Demands Closure Of Liquor Shops Till March 31

Hyderabad, March 20 (Maxim News): TPCC Treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy said State Government order closure of liquor shops across State as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of (COVID-19) in State.

In a media statement here today, Narayana Reddy said thousands of liquor shops across the State pose a major threat to public health under present circumstances. “Unlike other offices where the visitors can be checked and sanitized, the floating and fast-moving crowd at liquor shops could not be checked. Therefore, all liquor shops are highly vulnerable to COVID-19. Most of the liquor shops have illegal attached rooms where buyers assemble for some time to consume liquor. Therefore, in view of public safety, the State Government should order immediate closure of all liquor shops till March 31,” he demanded.

Reddy also demanded that the State Government draft a protocol to deal with cases of Corona virus. He said the World Health Organisation has framed guidelines for critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19, National laboratories, Risk communication and community engagement, Early investigation protocols, Clinical care, surveillance, rapid response teams, and case investigation, etc., Similarly, the Government of India has also framed some guidelines to deal with the situation. He said that the State Government too should prepare a protocol by incorporating all best practices to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

He said that the State Government should form multi-disciplinary special teams by drafting qualified and efficient personnel from Health and other departments. Besides medical professionals, medicines and equipment, the awareness, prevention and treatment involves lot of others issues like logistics. While the formation of committees comprising of District Collectors, Superintendents of Police/Commissioners and District Medical & Health Officer (DMHOs) is a welcome move, it should be expanded by involving experts from both public and private sectors.

Reddy said that Prime Minister Narender Modi has given a call for ‘Public Curfew’ on March 22 from 7 am to 9 pm. While it is good to motivate people to stay at their homes unless necessary, the Central Government should also assess the economic impact of various curbs being imposed upon people as part of precaution measures. He said lakhs of daily wage earners were badly hit ever since the Corona virus hit the country. The closure of commercial establishments has caused huge loss of business and revenues. Therefore, both Central and State Governments should come up with a compensation package to help those badly affected due to Coronavirus. Citing examples, he said the Hotel and Tourism industry should be given some tax rebates or concessions. The Daily Wage Earners should be adequately compensated to minimize their sufferings, he demanded. (Maxim News)