Dr Asangba Tzudir
As per data released by the Health Ministry, India on Thursday last, reported it’s highest singly day spike for the year 2021 of the COVID-19 virus with 35,871 cases and 172 deaths. India has so far reported a total of 1,14,74,605 cases and a death toll of 1,59,216. Five states of Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to surge in the number of cases with 79.54% of the single day spike of 35,871 cases coming from these five states. The second wave of spike is indeed alarming though it is concentrated in certain states but the future days are uncertain.
Coming to Nagaland, the state is comfortably nestled at just two active cases and due credit goes to the frontline workers for bringing down the situation to this level. However, this number, and also the fact that the state has not recorded a positive case for the past week is no indicator for the people to become complacent and carefree. There is need to still take precautions against COVID especially in the wake of SOP’s opening up on the restrictions and schools and colleges opening to full capacity. Thus, the present situation of two positive cases can change overnight if due precaution is not taken.
As such, precaution and safety measures needs to go beyond the basic SOP’s of Hygiene, wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing. This too seems to be flouted everywhere. However, even as the vaccination drive continues, the fact that one still has to wear face masks and maintain social distancing speaks a lot about the immunity of the vaccine. At the moment, the various entry points into the state needs re-strengthening through strict vigilance especially at the borders. With our neighboring state in State election mode and having seen that even their basic SOP’s are flouted, more precaution, vigilance and awareness should be created or else it will be like opening the flood gates overnight.
A collective responsibility is much desired to help save ourselves from this pandemic. The current two positive cases is just a temporal situation and consequent upon how complacent or preventive the people are. For now, the state seems to be reeling under a state of complacency by ‘creating’ a COVID free situation.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
