More than two years after the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 was no longer a global health emergency, the Municipal Council Shopian (MCS) continues to broadcast COVID-19 safety advisories through loudspeakers mounted on its garbage collection vehicles every morning.
The vehicles, which travel through residential areas to collect waste, play recorded COVID-19 awareness jingles to announce their arrival. The messages urge people to maintain physical distancing, wear masks and follow other COVID-19-appropriate behaviour—advisories that date back to the height of the pandemic.
Residents say the announcements have outlived their purpose and are now causing inconvenience because of their high volume.
“The loudspeakers are played at a very high volume every morning. It is disturbing, especially for elderly people, students and those working from home,” said Abid Hussain, a resident of Hergam in Shopian.
“The sound is so loud that it becomes irritating. The municipal council should either stop these outdated announcements or replace them with messages that are relevant today,” he said.
Another resident said the announcements frequently interrupted his work.
“I attend online meetings from home in the morning. Whenever the garbage vehicle passes through our locality, I have to pause my meeting because the announcement is too loud,” he said.
Several residents said they were not opposed to public awareness campaigns but questioned the continued use of COVID-19 messages years after the global health emergency ended.
“The vehicles can simply announce that garbage is being collected or educate people about waste segregation and cleanliness. There is no need to keep repeating COVID-19 messages,” said another resident.
The World Health Organisation declared in May 2023 that COVID-19 no longer constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, marking the end of the highest level of global health alert after more than three years of the pandemic.
Residents urged the Municipal Council Shopian to review the public announcement system and replace the outdated recordings with messages promoting sanitation, proper waste disposal and civic awareness.
Officials of the Municipal Council Shopian could not be reached for comment.
