Perhaps “knowing” how it can come back with full fury after getting somewhat subdued, COVID-19 virus has hit five of the states in such a way that restrictions in respect of observing precautionary protocol are now re-imposed which include dusk to dawn curfew too. That, during the last 24 hours fresh cases of infections having crossed the figures of 40,000 the highest recorded in 110 days, should provide enough space to introspect and decide whether there could be any wisdom in taking liberties with the three very important guidelines that of wearing a mask, maintaining reasonable social distance and washing hands thoroughly with soap for minimum 30 seconds / disinfecting surfaces , door knobs, handles etc. That as much as 86.63 per cent of the fresh cases of infections should be ”contributed ” to the overall tally by Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Chhattisgarh alone lays bare the fact that wanton breach of precautionary guidelines have taken place. In Maharashtra alone , as many as 25835 new cases in a single day is something which should rattle the administration to take more stricter measures so as to contain the spread. In Punjab , nine districts being the worst affected , night curfew extended by two additional hours shows the gravity of the spread.
Has the ”air” of vaccination drive in the country , undoubtedly one of the best in the world , got to do something with people feeling complacent , self satisfied and somewhat confident that perhaps the virus got ”frightened” and has left the country, if for bringing home the serious point in simpler parlance , the dreaded virus is personified. The virus is very much there and only due to compromising with the safety standards , the sudden increase in infections is observed for ten days in a row and in a peculiar pattern too . Total cases of infections in the country so far have swelled to 1,15,14,331 and those who succumbed to the virus are recorded as 159370. Agreed, most of the people were taken unawares initially when the virus all of a sudden spread or did not know that the virus was so much menacingly contagious and not only attacked the respiratory system immediately but affected other human organs too , remaining very active in frozen as well as hottest and humid temperatures without any difference but now with full awareness, why should fresh cases at alarming rate be recorded?
Phases of complete lockdown and other measures coupled with aggressive awareness launched by the concerned Union Ministry , the state governments and the entire situation monitored by the Prime Minister himself who even coined certain phrases like ”Mask zaroori , aur do gaz ki doori” and corona ”warriors” etc, people started observing safety norms but while opening up in phases slowly , and the country producing two anti COVID vaccines, most of the people unfortunately started cultivating in themselves a false assurance of things having eased hence the need to do away with the developed safety fatigue due to continuously wearing masks etc , moving in groups and in crowded places even without adhering to basic safety measures. The results are before us. It is repeatedly impressed upon even those who get vaccinated that even after taking both the doses , they still needed to continue observing precautionary measures . By those standards, it seems quite ludicrous to take any chances. What should frighten each one of us is that an infection of an individual is not a risk to one’s life only but many others around could get involved instantaneously. It is better to feel frightened than be complacent.
It has to be seen that the National Recovery rate of nearly 97 per cent , in respect of the infected ones getting the treatment in health institutions , highest in the world, could be achieved largely because of the undaunted devotion to duty and a sense of greater responsibility exhibited by our medical personnel – Doctors, para-medical staff , laboratory technicians and even by police and municipal staff who attended to new cases on daily basis while treating those who were admitted . That could be done with focussed attention when even facilities like OPD etc were totally stopped in designated hospitals and while we should appreciate their zeal and commitment when hardly anyone from them took even a day’s leave , we should not expect the same rush, the same mess and the same position to be repeated . We should , however, need to answer certain basic questions in respect of creating the same position as existed in most of the middle months of the last year.
Are we prepared to go in for phases of lockdown again and encounter various restrictions on movement ? Are we prepared to suspend our routine activities and get confined to our homes? Are we going to have movements of trains and other means of transport again stopped for months together? These are not mere possibilities but the only recourse with no alternative should the current rate of spike in cases of infections not show downward trend to nosedive within a couple of days only. While the country is reviving and repairing the damages caused to economy, fresh damages and losses must be avoided at all costs which can be done by avoiding lockdowns etc. That all enjoins upon us to observe safety protocol very strictly and in an orthodoxly manner.
So far as vaccination drive is concerned , both in terms of the number getting vaccinated and the personnel and the centres involved across the country being very encouraging , however, there being 6.5 % wastage of the vaccines depicts unsatisfactory management at such centres where these are allowed to get wasted either due to attaining expiry or due to storing in unsatisfactory manner. We should feel proud of the fact that so far nearly over 3.60 crore vaccine doses have been administered across the country but states like Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Utter Pradesh, Karnataka and UT of Jammu and Kashmir causing a wastage to the extent of being much higher than the average national wastage, needs to be checked .
While misconceptions about the two Indian vaccines have been proved wrong and negated by the experts and now the people in general too, vaccination drive needs to be intensified, day in and day out. On the other hand, more and more people especially from densely populated areas, should be subjected to testing for the virus so that timely measures like isolation, quarantining and even providing medical aid could be taken .
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