- The global community is yet to get over the economic meltdown caused by the debilitating effects of the COVID-19-induced restrictions. The sudden lockdowns and the subsequent restrictions on economic activities adversely impacted the global community big-time. India too is recovering from the economic meltdown much better than other countries in comparison but is not completely out of the woods even though the GDP indicators appear positive. Yes, we know how the second wave perpetrated by the Delta variant was not only deadly vis-à-vis virulence but also left behind devastating effects on the families who lost their near and dear ones. Every family had a tale of woe to share during those harrowing times as none were spared.
PC: Hindustan Times
- Of course, it sends shivers down the spine when thinking about those few weeks when the entire country was in the grip of the deadly Delta even as the administration was running short of ambulances, hospital beds, and oxygen cylinders amid crumbling healthcare infrastructure. Thankfully, the vaccine invented in record timeframe did come as a boon for the struggling humankind who were able to keep the jaws of death at a distance. Here too Indian leadership and the vaccine manufacturers need to be commended for the way they ensured the lifesaving inoculation process reaches every eligible citizen. Yes, we all started living with the virus since the economic activities had to pick up pace as exhorted by the healthcare experts.
- However, various variants of the virus were always amid us as validated by medical experts time and again. Agreed, the variant may not be as virulent as some of the earlier ones but will make their presence felt now and then, so did the medical experts opine. And those opinions are coming true with the emergence of a new Omicron variant JN.1 which is causing Covid cases to shoot up around the world, including India. As it happened before, the cases in India were first noticed in Kerala and subsequently spread around other states. The Union Health Ministry has issued fresh guidelines to ensure preventive measures like Covid-appropriate behavior are observed by those with comorbidities and immune-suppressed.
PC: Mint
- Does it mean the country will be in the grip of yet another wave? Not as per the healthcare professionals and medical experts closely monitoring the virus‘s pattern. Nonetheless, the Karnataka government has issued guidelines to observe the wearing of individual masks, especially for those above 61 years and people suffering from respiratory illnesses. Mind you, the winter has set in the country, and as such, respiratory illnesses are bound to witness a spike in the next few weeks. Moreover, with the Christmas season and the New Year beckoning, people would want to make the best out of the holiday season by indulging in revelry. Here, observing caution while moving around in a crowded place would go a long way in keeping the virus at bay.
