Jammu and Kashmir, which reported its first COVID-19 case in mid-March, has now recorded a total of around 800 cases. Unfortunately, nine people have died of the dreaded disease, with a young man from Srinagar’s Alamgari Bazar, who was tending to his ailing father admitted to Super specialty hospital’s oncology ward, becoming the latest victim due to the disease. J&K as per official statement ranks among top states or UTs in terms of the number of those tested. It has ramped up testing and recently even crossed the 2000 barrier.
In a proactive manner, the J&K was among a few local governments to take measures including physical distancing and setting up quarantine centres in every district.
These measures are important as has been seen context with Kerala where early detection of cases and tracing of contacts, quarantining and testing not only helped in containing the spread but also markedly reduced the death rate. Lately, Kerala has not reported even as single case. There is no room for complacency and it is important to know actual numbers of COVID-19 patients and tracing their contacts. It will only allow the virus spread to be checked while early detecting cases will also help keep the mortality rate down which is something that every government would be proud of. Testing may result in a jump in cases but it’s only a reflection of how active the particular government has been in waging a war against the pathogen. The efforts by the government particularly regarding lockdown and need to reveal travel history shall not be taken differently but ought to be adhered to religiously as part of our collective survival. Concealing history of travel could prove dangerous and as has been rightly pointed out by the deputy commissioner Srinagar, the cases which cropped up in the city on Wednesday would have been avoided had some people not concealed their travel history or adhered to instructions as regards restrictions on the movement. Given 1% mortality rate in J&K, there is no point in concealing the details or doing something which may put more vulnerable to trouble. One may even survive on his own but will he or she live up a venerable life by threatening others survival or cutting short somebody’s previous life? The government cannot alone defeat the virus nor will those who are dutifully following lockdown guidelines. It calls for collective effort and as has been rightly pointed out by the United Nation’s Chief: “No one is safe until everybody is safe.”
Not Just Govt’s Job
