COVID-19: Restrictions lifted, virus no more a mystery

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 7: Restrictions that were imposed in Kashmir soon after the outbreak of COVID-19 in March this year have almost been lifted but people are being asked to follow the norms in letter and spirit to keep the virus at bay.
A health expert while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “It seems that the peak is over but we cannot be complacent. People have to take the precautions as the virus is still very much present and anyone can get infected.”
He said that during the past few days number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has declined and the fatalities too seem to have come down. “All of us are aware of the fact that COVID-19 won’t go on its own and a vaccine only can act as a protective shield, life cannot return to complete normal till the people are vaccinated,” the expert added.
He said that lockdown and restrictions have been lifted everywhere across the globe as the countries have realized that shutting things down is not the solution. “The lockdown provided a chance to the experts to study the virus and come up with its anti-dode. When the pandemic broke out initially doctors had no idea about how to treat the patients as it was an entirely a new virus. Along with the passage of time they came to know the medicines which the patients were responding to. They became aware that mortality rate is not that high and the more than 80% to 90% patients do recover after getting infected. Last seven months have revealed many secrets about the COVID-19 virus,” he added.
It’s in place to mention here that the latest studies have revealed that the COVID-19 virus dies 10-day after it infects a person. “Last month J&K administration changed the protocol for the infected patients. The new protocol stated that anyone who tests positive needs not to be tested again for COVID-19 after 10 days. The decision about not to go for the repeat test was taken after the new study revealed that virus dies after the specific period,” the expert added.
A medico said, “When the pandemic broke out all of us were clueless about how to handle the patients. There was a fear and a scare. Hospitals were crowded, Chaos and confusion was prevalent everywhere. But now the things are different people have accepted COVID-19 as part of their lives and have realized that they have to live with it.”
He said, “Life is returning back to normal but the vaccine has to come for us to get rid of this virus, which has made us dance during all these months.”