From the last few days, cases of Covid-19 are ticking up in some parts of India, mainly Delhi, Delhi-NCR and Maharashtra. The mild surge could be primarily due to emergence of mutant variants like Omicron XE and BA.2 which have a high degree of transmissibility. presently, the pattern is limited to a handful of urban pockets while at the national level, the number of new cases recorded every day continues to decline. At 949, an increase of 133 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. Jammu and Kashmir, having recorded zero case count on one day earlier this week, has seen fresh cases even though the single digit numbers are restricted to two districts, mainly summer capital.
Cases are not cropping alarmingly but there is need to be guarded especially when cases have risen as restrictions are wound down in many parts of the globe. The United Kingdom, France and Germany have recorded or are currently in the grip of an increase in infection rates after they opened up cities. In much of the world, except China, there is a sense of freedom not felt since early 2020. In almost all such places, infection numbers have trended upwards but deaths and hospitalisation rates are in control. This is what is now regarded as living with Covid, a state in which some level of disruption may be inevitable, but in which hospitalisations and fatalities are rare.
Experts believe that given the current clinical scenario of COVID cases, there doesn’t seem to be as many symptoms as the Delta strain though transmissibility might be higher than Omicron.
The experts feel that the rise of new variants can be attributed to inequitable vaccination across the globe with more than a third of the population yet to receive the first dose.
Also experts feel that there is an increase in social gatherings, refusal to wear masks, poor personal hygiene, ignorance and reluctance to vaccinate and all these are contributing to the rising COVID cases.
The experts are unanimous that COVID appropriate behavior as recommended by the World Health Organisation will go a long way to contain the spread of the disease. It is as such imperative that people restart wearing masks and proper ventilation without waiting for the government to make them take the measures.
