Can’t go easy on Covid-19
Most of the states across India are witnessing a fresh spurt in Coronavirus cases and that too when winter season is already here. The number of fresh cases in the most populated states including the national capital of Delhi is a grim reminder that the measures that should be taken to control the spread need to be implemented immediately.
Though the centre has already notified the states that and Union Territories that they can impose local restrictions like night curfew to check the spread of COVID-19 but made it clear that they will have to consult it before imposing any lockdown outside the containment zones.
While issuing guidelines for ‘Surveillance, Containment and Caution’ for December, the MHA said the main focus of the directive is to consolidate the substantial gains which are visible in the steady decline in the number of active cases in the country.
The guidelines said that keeping in view the recent spike in new cases in a few states and UTs, ongoing festival season and onset of winter, it is emphasised that to fully overcome the pandemic there is a need to maintain caution and strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy.
Importantly, the containment strategy should be focussed on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines and SOPs issued by the MHA and the Ministry of Health and the states and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19 such as night curfew.
However, what is more important at this juncture is that the states and UT Governments should strictly enforce containment measures, SOPs on various activities and COVID-appropriate behavior and exercise caution and regulate crowds.
This should include religious gatherings, marriage ceremonies and various other social activities that have seen resumption over the past two months now.
Though the new covid1- 19 measures have eased restrictions on social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural and religious gatherings in closed spaces as they have been allowed with up to a maximum of 50 percent of the hall capacity with a ceiling of 200 persons, there is no such restriction for open spaces where people will be allowed as per the size of the ground.
But the recent developments like elections in Bihar and other political activities witnessing resumption, the covid-19 protocols have been ignored to the hilt. This sort of callousness can prove detrimental especially at a time when the fresh cases are witnessing a steep rise in many regions.
All this can have a far greater implications on the already over stressed healthcare infrastructure as is being witnessed in the national capital where no ICU’s or ventilators are available for patients who are even in dire need.
This points out to the fact that prevention and exposure to the virus should be ensured by following the covid-19 protocols religiously.
KV Network
