Finally, after two years of following pandemic protocols and standard operating procedures, Goa is returning to complete normalcy. The government has endorsed the recommendation of the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Management for opening up the State. The Expert Committee had cleared the operation of cinema halls, gyms, casinos, restaurants at full capacity, but by following appropriate behaviour, which essentially means physical distancing and use of mask. This recommendation came because, a committee member had explained, the third wave is under complete control. The government found that there was no reason not to accept this advice and acted on it to lift all restrictions. Goa is now, two years after the first lockdown, completely open again, two days before the counting of votes and a week after the carnival celebrations had already portrayed a semblance of normalcy.
The first sign that the pandemic restrictions were being completely eased came last month when the State government gave its nod for the reopening of schools for classroom teaching right from the primary standards. Though colleges and the high schools had been opened earlier, the primary section had not been opened since schools were shut in March 2020. Schools had been the first to close their gates to students and would always be the last to open given that the children are among the most vulnerable of the population and have also not been vaccinated. The opening of schools therefore indicated that the government was ready to change its stand on the pandemic and follow the example set by some of the other States that had already opened up.
Currently new cases are at less than 10 a day – it was just 2 fresh cases on March 7 – and the graph in the month of February has certainly flattened. Goa has ridden the third wave of the pandemic which was of the super spreader omicron variant. It was a short wave but it did sting as it was more infectious than the delta variant that had caused more deaths last year during the summer. In January this year Goa reported over 58,000 COVID cases, which is the second highest after May last year. Last month February saw cases drop to just over 6100. That Goa was able to vote without it resulting in an increase in cases did indicate that the omicron variant was diminishing.
Cases are down, so the challenge now lies in being able to keep the virus from spreading in the future. The situation for the current period may be safe, it has to remain that way and merely because the government has opened up all activities, it should not lead to the people throwing caution to the winds. It now depends on the people to keep themselves safe from the virus. While everybody would be glad to get out and conduct their normal activities, they have the responsibility of staying safe, for their own sake. Life has to go on, and the opening up of activities was necessary.
Goa’s lifting of restrictions follows the trend across the world, where several countries have already done so, many even no longer requiring masks as compulsory in public places. The panic of the COVID pandemic has passed, but not before it took a heavy toll. Over 2.45 lakh cases were reported in Goa and 3828 persons succumbed to it. Deaths are still occurring, and the nightmare of April-May 2021 will not be soon forgotten by the people of Goa. It has to be remembered so that it is not repeated. There is no guarantee that a fourth wave will not hit. It could and Goa has to be alert and prepared to meet it. Essentially, our guard has to be up at all times.
