Shed of umbrellas outside Arunachal bank for maintaining social distance

Itanagar, May 12 () Aiding the West Siang districtadministration in enforcing social distancing norms, a doctorin Arunachal Pradesh has helped setting up a shed using gardenumbrellas in front of a bank to ensure at least one-metredistance between two persons.

Tired of making customers of the bank adhere to socialdistancing norms, the district administration asked people tocome up with ideas and Dr Jumge Padu, a frontline COVID-19warrior, responded to the call.

Accordingly, 53 garden umbrellas were placed at adistance of one metre from each other in front of SBI's Aalobranch on Sunday by Dr Padu with help from two organisations.

The state is now coronavirus-free with the swabsamples of the lone COVID-19 patient having yielded negativeresult twice.

Appreciating the initiative, West Siang deputycommissioner Swetika Sachan who visited the site said, "Theshed will not only help in maintaining social distancing butalso provide relief to people from the scorching heat andrain."

Volunteers of the Kibom Old Age Welfare Societymonitor the people standing in the shed and there are separateentry and exit points for male and female customers.

"As prevention is always better than cure, we cannotbe complacent.

"Precaution is all the more important with themovement of people from other districts. If the virus entersthe district, the COVID-19 warriors have to fight a moredifficult war," Dr Padu said.

He is also instrumental in providing training tovarious self-help groups in the area regarding the making ofmasks. UPL MMSOM SOM