The Srinagar district administration on Monday issued a new set of guidelines, listing out the restrictions on business and other activities in the summer capital in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The order had exempted certain businesses such as grocery shops, bakeries and butchers from the restrictions. In view of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, these businesses were allowed to carry out normal activities from 8 in the morning till 12 in the afternoon. Many people had argued that this exemption is a recipe for disaster and the government should prioritize the life of its citizens over the festivities. However, their advice fell on the deaf ears as the Srinagar admin refused to withdraw the order. A day later, thousands of people converged in Srinagar. Massive traffic snarls were reported from all parts of Srinagar including Jehangir Chowk, Sanat Nagar, Barzulla, Narbal, Bemina and other areas. Reports of choked roads and overflowing bakeries were received from almost every part of Kashmir. The images circulating on social media showed people throwing the Covid-19 SOPs into the gutter while going about their shopping spree. Doctors have been reminding us time and again the new variant of the novel coronavirus is smarter as it spreads fast and infects more people. This alone should have been the guiding mantra for the J&K administration while formulating the schedule of restrictions. However, in complete defiance of science and common sense, the administration decided to allow people to buy bakery and other items. While these relaxations might have temporarily brought some happiness into the lives of people who have been besieged under lockdowns since 2019, it is likely that the administration enabled the spread of the virus. This madness was at display when the admin allowed tourists to enter Kashmir during March to project scenes of normalcy by organizing tulip festivals. We all know the outcome of those festivals. J&K, which was reporting barely few odd dozen cases, is now recording thousands of cases every day. The number of fatalities, which had come down to negligible levels, run in dozens these days. . The Srinagar admin has now withdrawn the order of relaxations but the damage may have already been done. The gains made in controlling the spread of the virus by restrictions over past couple of weeks may have been undone by this science-defying attitude.