COVID-19: A crisis that humankind can solve
- Imphal Times Editorial :: April 09 2020 -

Among the 2 confirmed case of COVID -19 in Manipur, the first patient, who was tested positive on March 24 has been reported recovered.

The Nijamuddi Markus incident, which alerted and panics the entire state, has also been normalized after family members of the 2nd positive case which was confirmed at RIMS were tested negative.

The government is somehow relieved as there are no findings of any community transmission happening in the state.

The good news is that all the other persons who had attended the religion congregation have also been tested negative, which means that the fear of community transmission still is not happening.

With these certain development, fear psychosis among the people has been somehow minimized.

This containment to the spread of the deadly virus should not only be credited to the Chief Minister or his entire team but also to the people who have been co-operating to the measures being taken up by the government.

While saying so are we people of the state secure from the pandemic COVID-19?

Does the government of Manipur needs more stringent measures to make sure that Manipur remains safe un-infected from the invisible enemy of human kinds?

To be précised we the people in particular and the government in general have a lot of tasks ahead.

The government needs to take more stringent measures to prevent spreading the virus as Manipur has already 2 positive cases (no matter one have been reported recovered).

Health advisory issued earlier during initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic needs to be reviewed.

For example, the state government under the directives of the Union government have advice to people to maintain a distance of at least one metre while buying essential commodities and to use mask approved by the government .

The strictures also appealed to stay indoor all persons at home but allowing only those in need to come out.

Today, Scientist have started studying the characteristic of the Novel Coronavirus and find many more development day after tomorrow.

Initial findings says people to distance only one metre when new findings says that the virus can travel two meters and can survive for three hours .

According to Manipur borne scientist serving at a decorated at US the virus can spread more parameters in rooms – where people enjoy party.

The whole of the room may have been filled with the virus if someone affected cough or speak laud with sprinkling his saliva.

In view of the recent development Manipur Government needs to review the health advisory while continuing the total lockdown.

For long, despite the obvious virtues and sacrifices their work entails, the medical profession and professionals have been regarded as soft targets.

Innumerable accounts of unfortunate incidents where aggrieved individuals and parties of the sick and the deceased have summarily held doctors responsible for the misfortunes to their dear ones are still rife the world over.

In places such as ours, armed terrorists and banned extremist groups have been targeting the medical professionals for ransoms and monetary demands, often resorting to violent means to intimidate and frighten them into submission.

These medical professionals have so far bore the brunt of such unwarranted and often violent intimidations with quite calm and dignity, instead focusing on the very responsibility of saving lives they have been trained and sworn to perform.

Cut to the present- the world is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis and people the world over are bracing for the worst which is yet to come.

While the frantic rush to find a cure is on, these silent angels are at the frontline of a war whose enemy is unseen and hitherto unknown.

Many of these medical professionals have already lost their lives while many more are fighting for their lives.

Amidst the chaos and already overstretched capacity for equipments, provisions and manpower, these brave souls are standing as a bulwark against the onslaught of COVID 19 with nothing much more than their unshakable moral strength and professional courage.

The scenario in the state at present is slightly better, but tension is already mounting and there is a growing sense of concern with one more confirmed case of the dreaded Coronavirus infection.

The unfortunate development which could have been prevented points to the fact that even with the strictest and most severe steps by the authorities, the ultimate decider of our own fates are ourselves.

The present lockdown is expected to be imposed more severely and stringently, and should be so as some of us have failed to perform or neglected our social responsibilities in this time of great crisis thereby putting others at grave danger.