Where is the finishing line?

Mintu Sarma

(The writer, a research scholar of Gauhati University,

can be reached at sarmamintu9@gmail.com)

It is well known that from 1720 the world is devastated by pandemic in every 100 years of interval. In 1720 the planet was shacked due to plague, in 1820 due to cholera, in 1920 due to deadly Spanish flue (influenza) and now (in 2020) coronavirus. The Spanish flu had infected about half a billion and killed about 100 million people. Its grasp stretched from the United States and Europe to remote reaches of Greenland and Pacific Island. It was one of the deadliest pandemics ever recorded in world medical history. On the 100th anniversary of Spanish flue humanity is facing a new pandemic called coronavirus. The word “corona virus” is derived from Latin word “corona” which means “crown” or “wreathe”. It is an infective form of virus which has a large fringe, bulbous surface projections creating an image resembling of a crown. Though a controversy is raised all over the world about the origin of corona virus, yet Wuhan’s (China) wet market is considered as the origin of this novel virus. It is unspoken that coronavirus (COVID-19) is more dangerous than Spanish flue. COVID-19 has already been repined the human race. Its novel properties have been pushing mankind to an endangered situation. Today most of countries on the planet have been forced to bow down before this fatal virus. Even superpower America could do little to control the pandemic. Daily thousands of people are taking their last breaths and thousands are newly infected. This unseen chain has been increasing at every second and wrapping the world by its suckers. It seems that if we do not capture serious precautions human race would be pushed to the brink of extinction and it would be impossible to overcome this micro parasite.

Scientists and researchers are working day in, day out to formulate the restorative medicine to fight against the virus. Doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are giving their best to save patients. In this noble work some doctors and health workers have sacrificed their valuable lives. Countrymen pay tearful homage to those brave souls. The government has issued safety advisories. Ministry of Ayush reiterates immunity boosting measures for self-care during COVID-19 crises. Though corona vaccine test is going on in China and America but till date no vaccine or medicine has been formally declared by World Health Organization (WHO). Indian doctors are always ready with dedication and skills to perform services. At present they are attending with symptomatic treatments to the patients. Meanwhile, for the first time in India “plasma enrichment technique” is to be used to treat severely ill corona patients in Delhi. In this technique antibodies from blood of patients, who have recovered from coronavirus are to be injected to treat severely infected corona patients. The Union Health Ministry has given approval to use this therapy by strictly adhering to guidelines and protocols. India is going to receive a huge consignment of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits from foreign countries. It would give a pace to frontline workers to fight against the virus. To spread the awareness about COVID-19 and connect essential health services to the people of India, the Central Government has launch “Aarogya Setu” mobile application. These are the immediate resources to deal with increasing number of coronavirus cases in India.

As a precautionary measure the Central Government has declared nationwide lockdown till May 3, 2020 to break the virus chain. It is noticed that during this lockdown period also the number corona infected patients are increasing steadily. It means that without lockdown, India would have faced an unrestrained situation like America, Italy and so on. Though lockdown and social distancing are simply a temporary relief then also it is the only social vaccine against coronavirus at this juncture.

The major anxiety for us is that how long government would continue this lockdown? What is the next? How long you can stay in a single room with all your family members? How can you keep physical distance or social distance in a joint family? These are simply vexed questions at this vital time. Government’s first and foremost assignment is safe and sane of its inhabitants. Some are insisting to relax or withdraw lockdown due to uncertainty of daily meal for poor. It is true that in remote places people are starving for days due to the lockdown. Local people, NGO et al should cooperate with each other to solve such problems for the sake of humanity. On the other hand, most of the people and politicians irrespective of political platforms are supporting to continue lockdown. There are some people who are using lockdown creatively and productively. Artistes, writers, musicians have enlightened their skill from home itself. It would carry out irreparable damage to the societies if we could not break the hidden chain of COVID-19. Meanwhile, some positive results of lockdown have been come. Goa and Manipur are all set to become India’s first COVID-19 free States. COVID-19 graph of most of the states has become flat. Sikkim stands on the top of all states having zero positive case.

This is a scary and challenging time. People need to learn from the Tablighi Jamaat incident. People should not to be secretive. Simply we should follow government instructions as we know prevention is better than cure. We must have to win our fight and stride towards the finishing line of corona pandemic.