Veroli Zhimo
Even as the country celebrated crossing the 1 billion mark of total vaccinations, a new variant—the AY.4 which is a sub-lineage or derivative of the Delta Variant, is on the rise.
According to the Nagaland Department of Health and Family Welfare, out of the 134 samples sent for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), 72 cases of AY.4 were detected from samples sent from Kohima, Tuensang, Phek, and Dimapur districts. As reported by The Morung Express on October 20, Principal Director, Health & Family Welfare, Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao noted that out of the sub-lineage variants, the main concern is the AY.4.
While observing that the vaccine ‘is giving a good coverage of all the variants (sub-lineage),’ another health official expressed concern that people have become very complacent lately. “Even if one has taken the vaccine, one must follow all COVID appropriate behaviours of wearing mask, hand hygiene, social distancing, avoiding crowded places and poor ventilated rooms,” the official told this newspaper.
According to a news report by the Times of India, at the all-India level, AY.4 presence increased from 5% of all samples tested in June to 8% in July and 45% in August. “The last Indian COVID-19 Genome Surveillance report said while Delta and Delta sub-lineages continued to be the main variants of concern globally, AY.4 is the main global sub-lineage” the report stated.
In its most recent COVID-19 weekly roundup, the state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme observed that while cases have decreased an average of 40 new COVID-19 hospital admissions and 6 COVID-19 deaths per week continue to be reported in the last 5 weeks.
“Many cases remain undetected or underreported and there is sufficient evidence of the possibility of a third wave anytime,” it cautioned while recommending observance of all COVID related safety protocols.
However, contrary to the recommendations of the health department and the fact that a presumably more contagious strain is at large in the general population, a sense of complacency seems to have set in. Anywhere in the state, mask wearing and social distancing mandates have gone for the toss—unmasked shoppers throng marketplaces and social events continue without attendees paying heed to any of the standard operating procedures.
While the state government and its machinery deserves credit for combating the disastrous second wave and ramping up healthcare infrastructure, efforts must be put in for strict enforcement of safety measures like the September 9 order issued by the Chief Secretary, directing action to be taken against those found not wearing masks and a penalty of Rs 200 is to be imposed every time the offence is committed, among other things.
With the wedding and festive season fast approaching, citizens must remind themselves of the first two waves of the pandemic that brought the state to a standstill—the losses in terms of human lives, economic setbacks in the education and economic sector, and realize that this is simply, no time to be casual.
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