With every passing day, Covid-19 pandemic gets aggravated. The cases continue to grow and there seems to be no end to it.
On May 11, India recorded 3,29,942 cases, taking the total count to 2,29,92,517, according to the Union Health Ministry data. The death toll climbed to 2,49,992 with 3,876 fresh fatalities.
J&K logged the highest death count in a single day on Tuesday while 4352 people got infected. In this month alone, 44983 cases were added to the burgeoning tally in Jammu and Kashmir while 517 people succumbed to the virus. All this points out to speed with which the second wave is spreading across J&K. Also on worrying note is the extent to large swathes of rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Not only twin capital cities, some other districts are seeing higher number of cases on daily basis.
Not only cases, the number of deaths have increased manifold compared to the peak of the first wave in September last year. These disturbing figures may not convey the scale of the tragedy unfolding in large parts. Without doubt, a crisis more serious than that suggested by official records seems to be playing out.
The available data as regards India suggests that it took nearly five months for the pestilence to leave its footprint in the rural parts. Apparently, it suggests to have fuelled misconceptions about the virus being a predominantly urban phenomenon. As is true about other parts of the globe, official records report only confirmed infections, not actual cases, because several people display mild or no symptoms. But as the situation is unfolding, the matter has been compounded by widespread undercounting. It is imperative to map minute details to deal with the pestilence. It is important that the administration should concentrate on stepping up data collection methods and be scrupulous with facts. Only the true picture of the spread of the infection will help in checking the virus surge. It will also help the government to build capacities and strengthen SOPs for the next wave which as per some experts is all but inevitable. The government must be cogent that the only way to flatten the Covid-19 curve is to ensure that truth leads the response, irrespective of it looking terrible sometimes. Also people need to realize that there is room for complacency and as such every endeavor should be made to ensure that covid-19 appropriate behavior is adhered to in all circumstances to keep the ravaging pathogen at bay.
