As Jammu and Kashmir enters the final week of the extended lockdown, the number of coronavirus cases has seen a surge, mainly because of the inflow of the people from the J&K who were stranded in various parts of the country and elsewhere on the globe.
The number of Covid-19 patients has mounted to 971—874 in Kashmir and 97 in Jammu. Moreover, 466 people have recovered, leaving the active positive cases at 494 while 11 people have died so far.
With cases rising on onside, there is a great deal of realization on the other hand among those at the helm of affairs that novel coronavirus is not disappearing anytime soon especially when any vaccine to fight the pestilence is still a distant dream globally.
Almost two months ago, Jammu and Kashmir imposed the lockdown when the cases were in single digit. Today, cases are nearing 1000 and as is apparent from the data of the confirmed cases, the lockdown has not flattened the curve even though it has slowed the spread of the raging pathogen.
As can be gauged from the press statements by the administration, the coming few days may see the larger extension in lockdown eases. The administration seems to have recognized that there is increasing need in preparing the residents to learn to live with the virus. Given the economic distress, the fiscal pressure on the various sectors, and the fact that the lockdown is yielding diminishing returns on the health front, the administration now needs to open up the J&K to a large extend.
However, as has been observed by the high court, there is still no clarity in the manner in which the public could be required to conduct itself after the reduction of the restrictions post-lockdown.
It is absolutely imperative that people are educated about the way to conduct in advance. The commercial and industrial establishments need to know as to how they would be permitted to work after the reduction or removal of the lockdown curbs.
The government must declare red, orange, and green zones and decide with clarity on the restrictions it may want, particularly in containment zones. We cannot afford to send the children to school or even higher educational institutions for almost a month more as it would amount to inviting trouble given the fact that COVID-19 cases continue to show a steep rise.
At the same time, it seems to be time to allow inter-district travel with the condition of meeting physical distancing norms. More offices need to be opened with a rider that the work from home should be preferred where possible.
Learning To Live With Virus
