- The daily infection rate of a novel coronavirus in India is ebbing dramatically as per the reports published by the Union Health Ministry. People fatigued due to the incessant restrictions and existential challenges over the last two years are finally heaving a sigh of relief and are indulging in economic activities with renewed vigour. As a consequence, precautions in the form of Covid appropriate behavior like masking, distancing, and frequent handwashing has apparently taken a backseat. Looks like people have become complacent and/or showing a lax attitude in adhering to the time-tested norms believing the dreaded virus behind us. Far from it.
PC: BusinessToday.In
- In a worrying sign, a renewed surge in Covid infections across Europe, East Asia, and Australia, likely driven by Omicron’s stealth sub-variant, BA.2, has prompted the Union Health Ministry to insist on greater disease surveillance and genome sequencing. It is reported that in countries like the UK, Germany, and Australia the new wave has taken shape in a matter of weeks after the Omicron wave of December-January appeared to abate. Contrast this to the gap of several months between earlier waves. Of course, India’s Covid trajectory is far from alarming at present as just over 2,500 or so infections per day were detected during the past week with a weekly positivity rate at a low of 0.4%.
- Notably, the surge in other countries does raise worries over the duration of immunity even though most testing positive have mild symptoms. However, there is no cause to jump to a quick conclusion or be complacent as disease behavior could be getting modified and moderated because these countries have administered plentiful booster doses. Some statistics here would be in order. Against South Korea’s 63 booster doses per 100 people, the corresponding numbers for other affected countries like UK, Germany, and Australia are 57, 57, and 48 respectively. On the other hand, India is at a low 1.4 booster doses per 100 people.
PC: TRAVEL NEWS
- Welcomingly, the Government’s decision to remove the comorbidity precondition for the 60-plus age group to avail precaution doses is welcome. Nonetheless, allowing those over 45 and any adult with comorbidities to avail booster doses should be considered forthwith. Remember, many adults received second doses over six months ago and their waning immunity is an uncomfortable prospect amid massive infection surges abroad as well as the resumption of normal international air travel operations from March 27. Experts opine that the Omicron wave renewed mass immunity, this still doesn’t explain the ongoing Covid surges in countries equally hit by Omicron.
- Most hearteningly, the bouquet of vaccines available is growing with many receiving emergency use approvals. As such, the Union Government should come out with a specific timeline for the booster program to kickstart without any further delay. Also, this will help vaccine companies to calibrate production in line with the requirements projected. We all know how the country was devasted during the second Covid wave where the Delta variant created unmitigated havoc on our daily lives. Thus, we cannot afford to be caught napping by emerging variants. Need of the hour is to keep reiterating that coronavirus is controlled, not conquered. Exercise caution!
