Growing number of infected and deaths : Call for discipline
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 19 2020 -
The figure says it all. Total death pegged at 221 as on November 15 and 21,871 cases, again as on November 15.
Even as this is being penned down after the Ningol Chakkouba break of two days, thanks to the anithokpi culture of the people, the number of deaths and infected must have risen and will continue to rise.
It was a worrying sight to see the people banishing all calls for maintaining social distancing while out shopping and marketing for Ningol Chakkouba and it was the same on Diwali.
Despite calls from experts that air pollution can help the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread, this fell on deaf ears of quite a large number of people, if one takes into account the crackers that were burst on Diwali and the resultant air pollution.
The virus does not discriminate with Chief Minister N Biren testing positive for the virus, after Works Minister Th Biswajit and former Minister Nemcha Kipgen.
With experts also predicting that the virus will spread more in the winter cold, there is every reason for all to be very, very careful and follow the dos and don'ts of the World Health Organisation and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
The lockdown has already been lifted but this does not mean the virus has been tamed and this is a point which the people cannot afford to ignore.
Stay indoors as much as possible and move out only when it is absolutely necessary.
Maintain physical distancing and always wear a face mask while stepping out.
Wash one's hand regularly with soap and water and use a hand sanitiser.
Not such a tough task to follow, but when people just refuse to toe the line, then tragedy awaits everyone.
It was with a reason why The Sangai Express gave page 1 coverage to Dr Kh Palin of Shija Hospital when he said that timely medical intervention is highly needed and not wait for the disease to get more severe some days back.
Are the people following this gem of an advice from the doctor is the question that all should raise, especially against the statistics of over 200 deaths and over 21 thousand infected.
The festival season is on and now after Diwali and Ningol Chakkouba, there is Christmas and New Year along with New Year's eve.
This is where the responsibility of everyone to observe the coming festivals with caution becomes important.
It should also not be forgotten that schools and college are yet to re-open, for the virus is still out there and understandably parents and guardians would be unwilling to send their children and wards to schools and colleges.
Why this is should be understood, but judging by the manner in which hundreds of people, jostled for space while out shopping and marketing for Ningol Chakkouba was akin to inviting the virus to infect more and more people.
In a way coronavirus may be taken to mean another way of testing the character of the people and this is where the need for everyone to exercise caution and follow the SOPs laid down by WHO and ICMR becomes important.
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