oppn parties Coronavirus: Dangerous Surge

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  • The Indian envoy in Bangladesh was summoned by the country's government over the breach in the Bangladesh mission in Agartala
  • Bank account to soon have 4 nominees each
  • TMC and SP stayed away from the INDIA bloc protest over the Adani issue in the Lok Sabha
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  • Sin goods like tobacco, cigarettes and soft drinks likely to face 35% GST in the post-compensation cess era
  • Bank credit growth slows to 11% (20.6% last year) with retail oans also showing a slowdown
  • Stock markets continue their winning streak on Tuesday: Sensex jumps 597 points to 80845 and Nifty gains 181 points to 24457
  • Asian junior hockey: Defending champions India enter the finals by beating Malaysia 3-1, to play Pakistan for the title
  • Chess World title match: Ding Liren salvages a sraw in the 7th game which he almost lost
  • Experts speculate whether Ding Liren wants the world title match against D Gukesh to go into tie-break after he let off Gukesh easily in the 5th game
  • Tata Memorial Hospital and AIIMS have severely criticized former cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for claiming that his wife fought back cancer with home remedies like haldi, garlic and neem. The hospitals warned the public for not going for such unproven remedies and not delaying treatment as it could prove fatal
  • 3 persons died and scores of policemen wer injured when a survey of a mosque in Sambhal near Bareilly in UP turned violent
  • Bangladesh to review power pacts with Indian companies, including those of the Adani group
D Gukesh is the new chess world champion at 18, the first teen to wear the crown. Capitalizes on an error by Ding Liren to snatch the crown by winning the final game g
oppn parties
Coronavirus: Dangerous Surge

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-03-13 03:36:06

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

The surge in fresh Covid cases in March is a cause for grave concern. On Friday, the 12th of March, 24,866 new cases were reported in India, which was the highest in nearly three months. Out of this, Maharashtra alone reported 15,817 new cases, the highest single-day count in four-and-half months. This is a result of laxity all around. The state administrations all over India adopted a relaxed attitude when cases started dropping and people started to abandon the health advisories. Granted that physical distancing is becoming increasingly impossible with the opening up of all sectors (except education) and people going out to work in increasing number, other things like wearing a mask in public, washing or sanitizing hands regularly and not venturing out unless absolutely necessary are also not being followed.

More than 50% of the people out on the streets are without masks in almost all Indian cities and towns. People in congested places like wholesale markets and slums also go about their work as if the virus has gone away. People in public transport display a shocking indifference to the health crisis by not wearing masks and rubbing shoulders with strangers who might be asymptomatic carriers. If shops do not allow people to enter without masks, why can't public transport operators also be asked not to allow passengers without masks to board the vehicle? Why can't we once again start penalizing those who roam about without masks and put others at risk?

The people need to understand the gravity of the situation which still has the potential of going out of hand. Community transmission is still possible if the 25000 new cases jump to 100000 once again and the rapid spread will be difficult to control even as we vaccinate people. It is only through restraint on part of the people and vigilance on part of administrations that the spread can be stopped. Several questions need to be asked now. What is Maharashtra doing to stop the spread other than sounding warnings to the people about imposing lockdown once again? The time for warning is gone. It is now time for action and the state has to take the lead as it the worst infected.

The Centre must also make the vaccination drive open to all and must try and make the vaccine available in pharmacies. If we can inoculate at least 40 to 50% of the population within 6 months, we can achieve herd immunity. That, according to most experts, will stop the virus from spreading. But as long as that is not achieved, one feels that the administrations all over India have to once again be strict in implementing Covid health protocols if the people do not show self restraint. 

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