Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a steep rise in the cases of novel Coronavirus recently. The cases have risen to 4000 and more than half of the cases were added in around a fortnight. Also, 41 people become victims of the covid-19 disease—27 people succumb to virus in 20 days alone.
The steep rise is happening as a new phase in the J&K’s tryst with the deadly virus is beginning from Monday. Jammu and Kashmir has issued new guidelines for how the live goes about amid the pandemic. In keeping with the statements by some top functionaries that life needs to go with the virus, the government has allowed phased resumption of social and economic activities across the J&K. Though some kind of relaxation of restrictions had begun in early last month, the new guidelines allowed significant activities in line with procedures by the MHA that speaks a different language from the notifications issued earlier. Activities can resume in malls, hotels, restaurants, and places of worship in non-containment zones and movement of goods and persons has been allowed with a rider.
Given the toll on people’s livelihoods, and the stress on the economy in general, easing the stringent lockdown had become necessary, thus is the feeling in official circles. At the same time, the disease continues to rage in J&K. There have been spikes in the caseload and unfortunately, they include some senior officers and frontline healthcare workers. The pathogen is thus affecting even the people who should otherwise be taking most precautions.
This sudden surge in the numbers has raised the fear of the community transmission in the region even though the government remains tight-lipped, taking refuge in ongoing surveys. The situation may aggravate as the government takes steps to open up the economy. At the same time, the government cannot continue with the lockdown. It has already wrought disaster with the economy, more so, in Kashmir which has already been under lockdown for the past at least ten months. There is already telling loss of employment even as important sectors of the economy like tourism, horticulture, handicrafts have been hit hard. Amidst this situation, the government needs to keep talking to people about the virus that doesn’t have any vaccine or medicine yet. It should not lose sight of the importance of conveying the message of caution and safety. There is a need to create more awareness about social distancing norms and take action against the people and the businessmen who violate it.
New Phase Of Life Amid Virus
