Case dip no guarantee Covid-19 threat is over
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 05, 2021 -

REGARDLESS of the gradual improvement in the pandemic situation, it is an undeniable fact that Covid-19 remains a threat to everybody and that vaccination and Covid appropriate behaviour are two things that will help break the chain of transmission.

While regular deaths of infected people, albeit in lesser numbers now than a few weeks back, is grim reminder for all to continue following precautionary measures, the state's test positivity rate fluctuating in between 5 to 7 per cent since September indicates unpredictable nature of the infectious Virus.

For unknown reasons the sample testing capacity in the state has been static at around the 2000-mark for nearly three months now, subsequently compelling one to wonder whether the health department authorities are suffering from 'Ostrich syndrome'instead of intensifying the contact tracing measures to detect and immobilise the vectors.

When the pandemic first began, it is certain that no one expected it to last this long, and no one expected that it would spread so widely and have such a disastrous impact.

That Covid-19 is still a grave reality and could infect anybody if the safety-protocols are not adhered to or the authorities undermine its impact is also comprehensible from newer strains of the virus spreading across the world and even vaccinated people contracting the infectious disease and dying.

Since early part of 2020 people are being advised to maintain social distance, avoid large groups of people, wash or sanitise hands and wear masks consistently to stop the spread of the virus, thereby implying that the situation is far from being over.

Population-wise, Manipur is second to Mizoram in terms of percentage of new cases detected on daily basis in the northeast region.

After Kerala, Mizoram is the worst-hit state in the country as of now but there's nothing to relish over Manipur's test positivity rate consistently remaining above the 5 per cent mark with exception of only a day in September when the percentage of daily cases dipped below 5 per cent, a figure that the health ministry insists should remain for at-Ieast a fortnight for consideration of fruition in the fight against the virus for any state.

The northeast region was among the lastones to report coronavirus cases during the first wave of the pandemic and accounted for least number of Covid-19 deaths but such an enviable situation took the turn for worst with onset of the second wave exposing the region's tenuous healthcare infrastructure, not to mention of shortage in manpower.

Though the second wave caught the regional governments napping, thrust towards installation of medical oxygen plants helped save many Covid-19 patients from possible deaths and gave bragging rights to the government authorities to assert that they responsibly ramped up requisite infrastructure.

However, the self-congratulatory mood of the government would be vindicated and digestible only when fatalities could be either totally prevented or kept at the bare minimum.

Moreover, it is equally important that along with sustaining the battle against the contagion, steps are taken to avert the next wave as it needs no reminding that unless appropriate measures are put in place beforehand, the virus will bring immense miseries.