Crowd Management

Covid-19 cases continue to be reported, even though the numbers are not alarming. However, complacency could be detrimental. The prime objective of the government should be to stop crowds from gathering at busy places. The reason is that the R Value – or reproductive value – of Covid-19 is more than one in several states or UTs including Jammu and Kashmir.

Random changes in the virus’s genetic code are threatening to undo the progress made in containing the pandemic’s spread.

There is enough evidence that the current crop of vaccines limit the number of people falling gravely ill.

Dedicated focus must be given on timely inoculation of 2nd dose, besides ensuring 100% coverage of the 18-44 age group with the first dose, the Lt Governor rightly asked the officials during a review meeting on August 18.

There is a need for assessing the surveillance activities being conducted in the districts. There is also a need to scale up the surveillance exercises besides contact tracing which must be done at a 1:15 ratio to break the spread chain of the virus.

Besides increasing vaccination, there is a need to guard against complacency and laxity, which creeps in as positivity declines. Efforts must be stepped up to prevent any probable future surge.

While the effective preventive and surveillance measures have shown favourable results in reducing the intensity of the second wave, there is a need to consolidate the substantial gains achieved in containing the spread and accord highest priority to the areas reporting new positive cases. The sustained decline in positivity rate must be maintained.

All districts continue to be in green zones as per the cardinal Indicators for assessing the COVID 19 situation. But complacency could prove detrimental. As has been underlined by the Lieutenant governor, better crowd management is imperative to break the spread chain. The concerned officials need to discharge their collective responsibility for enforcing Covid Appropriate Behaviour in workplaces and in public, especially in crowded places.

Efforts must be stepped up to prevent any probable future surge, especially predicted 3rd wave.

While devastation wreaked by the second wave should continue to spur the authorities to be better prepared on all counts – oxygen, ventilators, ICU beds and medicines, people must be cogent as lifting of restrictions should not lead to all-round laxity in adhering to the precautionary norms.

 

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