oppn parties With Fresh Covid Strains Surfacing In India, Complacency Will Be Dangerous

News Snippets

  • 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
  • Delhi HC stops the police from arresting Nadeem Khan over a viral video which the police claimed promoted 'enmity'. Court says 'India's harmony not so fragile'
  • Trafiksol asked to refund IPO money by Sebi on account of alleged fraud
  • Re goes down to 84.76 against the USD but ends flat after RBI intervenes
  • 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
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With Fresh Covid Strains Surfacing In India, Complacency Will Be Dangerous

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-02-18 02:27:56

About the Author

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

Even as India is in the midst of the largest vaccination drive in the world, new strains of the Covid-19 virus have surfaced in the country to cause fresh concerns. One of these strains is from South Africa where Covishield, the vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India and being used extensively in the country, was found to be ineffective against the strain. In fact, South Africa has even asked Serum to take back the consignment that was delivered.

As it is, we are witnessing laxity all across India despite Prime Minister Modi repeatedly warning the citizens that despite the vaccination drive, there has to be dawai bhi and kadai bhi. People have thrown all caution to the winds and thousands are seen on the streets without masks and crowding in public places is back with a vengeance. Cases are rising once again n Mumbai and the city's Mayor has already warned citizens that if the situation deteriorates, the government will be forced to enforce lockdown once again.

With cinema halls, clubs, swimming pools and schools resuming operations and with board exams and elections in four states and one Union territory slated to happen in the next couple of months, the risk is huge. Unless citizens do not follow health advisories and protocols, there is a huge chance that the gains of last few months will be washed away and India might once again start reporting a huge number of cases with the chances of community transmission.

Although lockdown is not an option now given the huge economic costs, especially as the economy is showing strong signs of rebounding, the Centre and the states must appeal to the people to strictly follow health protocols like wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing in public places. If that fails, the authorities should start taking penal action against the offenders. Any complacency now would be dangerous and push us back in the fight against the virus.

Pic courtesy: ndtv.com