There has been a downward trend in covid-19 cases and deaths in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Sunday, July 4, J&K logged 347 new coronavirus infections during the last 24 hours. The death toll due to pathogens reached 4337 with two more deaths.
In view of the “improved” situation, the government also lifted weekend corona curfew in six more districts. With this there will be no curfew on Saturday and Sunday in thirteen out of 20 districts in Jammu and Kashmir now.
The government has rightly asked the market associations to fully cooperate with the local administration in ensuring strict compliance to the COVID appropriate behavior (CAB).
While it is good that measures done to contain the pathogen spread have paid off the desired results, equally important is to ensure that no such statement is made that drives people to lower the guard. Also no such activity should be allowed that allows any room for the virus to stage any comeback strong as observed in the second wave.
The first wave which peaked last year was blamed on extraneous factors. The authorities have admitted that the complacency to covid-19 behavior was to be blamed for the second wave which is only ebbing and not over by stretch of imagination.
The government should continue and that too vigorously with all the measures which have helped to bring the covid-19 numbers down. There is no room for complacency. Wait and watch policy could prove detrimental as in the past which a place like J&K can hardly afford to bear. There is need for continuing with tests, tracking and isolating infected persons alongside with due adherence to caution which remains pivotal to save lives and livelihood.
The administration’s message to not be complacent and continue to adhere to mask use is in the right scientific spirit and must continue to be listened and adhered to.
The Lieutenant Governor has also stressed and rightly too that there is a need to counter vaccination hesitancy and educate people. Divisional Commissioners, IGPs, DCs, Health functionaries need to put extra effort with low vaccination rate.
The government and the people need to take very seriously the WHO’s statement that the Delta variant is dangerous and is continuing to evolve and mutate, which requires constant evaluation and careful adjustment of the public health response.
Scientists have also emphasised the urgency of vaccinating the people as the Delta variant is substantially more transmissible.
