THE recent surge in Covid-19 cases in India is a stark reminder that the pandemic is far from over. The country reported 10,158 new cases in the last 24 hours, with the active caseload reaching 44,998. While these numbers may seem small compared to the peak of the second wave, they are still a cause for concern. The Union Health Ministry has reported that on average, India recorded 5,555 Covid-19 daily in the last week, as compared to 3,108 the week before. This shows that the virus is still spreading and people need to take precautions to protect themselves.
The spike in infections is believed to be caused by a new variant called “Arcturus”. Over the past month, the number of cases has increased by 13 times, and there are concerns that the Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 strain could further worsen the situation. In response, the country’s health ministry has conducted mock drills to assess the readiness of hospitals to handle a potential influx of patients.
On the vaccine front, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla announced that the company has restarted manufacturing of the Covishield vaccine. Poonawalla also stated that the company already has six million booster doses of the Covovax vaccine available, and adults must take the booster shot. It is crucial that people take the vaccine and the booster shot, as it is the most effective way to control the spread of the virus and prevent severe illness and death.
However, it is important to note that the pandemic since it broke out in February 2020, has had a significant impact on the economy. It has hit the most vulnerable sections of society the hardest. According to a media report, between July 2020 and February 2023, just 17.51 percent of the total number of loans in India turned bad or non-performing. While this is a relatively low number, it is still a cause for concern, as it shows that many people are struggling to repay their loans due to the economic impact of the pandemic.
The recent surge in Covid-19 cases is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. People must continue to take precautions to protect themselves and those around them. In Kashmir too, there are signs that the infection is spreading again. But people are far from observing the Standard Operating Procedure. Masks have been abandoned long time ago. But given the highly transmissible nature of the new strain, it is time people take to observing Covid protocol again. We shouldn’t allow the virus a gestation period before it once again blows up in our face.
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