Preventing a health catastrophe

Heart-breaking scenes of bodies being piled up at mortuaries and incessant burning pyres at the crematoria
Preventing a health catastrophe

Heart-breaking scenes of bodies being piled up at mortuaries and incessant burning pyres at the crematoria, and burial grounds overflowing with death in several cities in India depict a grimmer situation of COVID-19 pandemic caused by the second wave. A sudden jump in positivity rate and hospital beds in COVID wards getting filled up in Assam is an alarm bell for all stakeholders in the state to prepare for the worst. Health experts have cautioned against any laxity in COVID-safety protocols as ferocity of new variants has been manifested in faster pulmonary infections in several cities as compared to the infections last year. While it took seven to ten days from appearance of symptoms for pneumonia-linked lung infection in some positive patients last year, severe pulmonary infections have been observed in significant percentage positive cases within the third day of symptoms in the current wave. This has stretched the health systems in worst affected cities and towns with rapid rise in demand for oxygen and ventilator support for those with severe lung infections. The country has been logging over 2 lakh positive cases forcing state governments in Maharashtra and Delhi to impose weekend curfew from Friday evening till Monday morning in a bid to break the chain of infections. Uttar Pradesh government has also announced Sunday lockdown after logging over 22,000 cases on Thursday. Maharashtra recording the highest single day positive cases of about 62,000 is an ominous sign of a larger health crisis in the country. Shop, mall, gym, and other business owners have been hit by weekend curfew, the hospitality industry in the worst-hit cities and towns are also affected by loss of business when they were trying to revive after incurring heavy losses during the nationwide lockdown last year. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled final examinations of Class X and postponed the examinations of Class XII in view of the alarming rise in the positivity rates. The post-graduate medical entrance examinations have also been postponed. The element of uncertainty in academic career has caused anxiety among students. In Assam, the new government to be installed after May 2 will take the call on final board examinations to be conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council. Cancellation instead of postponement of class X examinations of CBSE was hasty as state boards in several states have decided to go ahead with their class X final examinations. This will create confusion at the time of admission for class XI over the standardisation of marks of the state board and CBSE. For Assam, rapid surge in neighbouring West Bengal with record single-day registration of 6769 positive cases on Thursday is a cause of concern. With four more phases of polling for ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal, dance of death is looming large over dance of democracy as all COVID-safety protocols continue to be flouted in election rallies despite the rapid rise in infection and fatalities. While COVID-19 tests have been made mandatory for passengers from other states arriving at airports and train stations in Assam, tests are yet to be made mandatory for bus passengers and other travellers by road at the Assam-West Bengal border. In absence of screening and surveillance of these travellers by road, the apprehension of people from other states infected with new variant of COVID-19 virus going undetected and spreading infection in the communities in Assam remains unaddressed. Ramping up testing to detect maximum positive cases is the first precondition to avert the disaster that is lurking. Long queues at vaccination centres are indicative of vaccine hesitancy gradually going away but there is no room for any complacency. The figures of people receiving both doses of vaccines is still far below than the desired level. The National Health Mission data show that only 2.75 lakh doses account for second shot of vaccines out of 15.50 lakh does of vaccines administered till Thursday. The state has over 5 lakh vaccines in store and is expecting another batch of one lakh doses by this week and replenishing the stocks in time to cater to the rising demand for vaccination will require correct projections by health officials. Pro-active measures to thin out crowds at markets and other public places, strict enforcement of COVID-appropriate protocols of face mask wearing and physical distancing norms will prevent a health catastrophe. Reviving the Nagarik Committees, the interface of police-public cooperation as part of innovative community policing in the state for generating awareness on COVID-safety protocols can be expected to produce better results. Lessons must be learnt from the states caught napping and not strengthening the health infrastructure when COVID-19 infections declined. Ensuring availability of beds and uninterrupted oxygen supplies requires pro-active measures. Waiting for the disaster to occur will be disastrous.

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