There has been a rise in COVID cases across the country, indicating loud and clear that COVID is not over yet. The reports of rising cases of COVID in some states, including Goa shows that we can’t afford to be lax once again and not let this manifest into a third wave.
The country has suffered a lot in the first two waves. It is important at this time to be alert and not forget COVID appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks and maintaining physical distance to prevent spread of the infection.
Increased case positivity in some districts and States and reduced COVID-19 testing are a toxic combination. The State governments must not lower their guard. This virus is determined to cause havoc by mutating. Increased and timely testing will enable early identification of COVID cases and help to curb spread of the infection among the community.
All the States and Union territories must strengthen the surveillance and focus on genome sequencing for identifying new mutants in the country. States must focus on implementing the Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy for COVID-19 which focuses on surveillance of incoming international travellers and surveillance through health facilities, labs, community etc.
States must review the progress of vaccination to all those not vaccinated, especially children in the 12-17 age group, so they can attend schools with the protection of the vaccine.
Although the country has opened up after two long years of COVID induced lockdown, there is no time to relax. Vaccination, booster dose must be given. The people at large need to be told about the importance of vaccination and booster dose.
Some may argue it as an unnecessary hassle and consider it as harmful or even a tactic by pharmaceutical companies to mint money, but the fact remains that the prevailing circumstances show clearly that the threat of infection is present.
It is important that we don’t believe in myths and don’t take unsubstantiated, unscientific statements seriously. We have seen how vaccinated people when contracted the disease, survived with minor ailments. This shows that vaccination has played an important role in preventing health complications. Similarly, booster shots should be taken by the community, particularly those whose work nature exposes them to crowds, which makes them vulnerable to the disease.
In the meantime, the Centre and State governments should gear up to strengthen health infrastructure. We have all seen how big the gaps in our healthcare infrastructure are. Lack of access to hospital beds, lack of oxygen killed so many people. Moreover, there were shortages of PPE, ventilators, blood, and health care professionals. The healthcare system simply collapsed. God forbid, if another bout of COVID spreads across the country, are we prepared to handle the crisis this time? The answer is no.
If we look at the scenario in Goa itself, most of the Primary Health Centres in rural areas are crying for upgrades and more staff. All the candidates who contested the Assembly polls held this year, made one common promise – strengthen the healthcare system. The elections are over, the government is formed, but work on improving the health infrastructure is yet to take off. There is more politicking happening than serious measures for revamping the health facilities.
The time is ripe for the political leadership to take cognizance of the current situation and start taking corrective measures before things go out of hand once again just like it happened in the past. There is no time to waste. Political slugfest can wait. But life can’t.
