Decoding India’s Covid curve, especially the signs of flattening, has never been easy. Nevertheless, with daily caseloads now falling below the 65,000 mark, fatalities touching a new low on Friday with 1,587 which is the lowest in 61 days and active cases also going down below the 8-lakh mark after more than 70 days, it seems that difficult days of this round are perhaps over. However, going by the repeated warnings from experts that Covid 3.0 is inevitable which can strike at any moment, there is no question of any relaxation and  preparations by states are visible. Arunachal Pradesh must engage itself in the process at once and since the 2^nd wave has been more tormenting than the predecessor and presuming that its successor is going to be a count higher, necessary strategies must be kept ready.

While there is unanimity among the medical fraternity that a third wave is imminent, no definite conclusion has been reached regarding its probable time of arrival. In a first of such attempts of foretelling the onset, a Reuters poll based on opinions of medical experts from around the world conducted between June 3-17 has thrown some light. As per this assessment, it’s within October the third wave is going to unfold in India and with a fair amount of optimism it has been mentioned in the report that it will be “better controlled.” For making an assessment how the critical aspects of medicines, oxygen, hospital beds and supply of vaccines, that were all messed up during the 2^nd wave are managed, one has to wait till then. As the states return to normalcy, it’s obvious (since it has been observed across the country in both editions of the pandemic) that people will deviate from Covid protocols and in a thickly populated country like India that level of ideal behavioural attitude is virtually impossible to maintain on a long-term basis. Lockdowns or containments that span for weeks can never be the solution in a Covid-like situation as economic costs are silently mounting, taking toll on all entities- citizens, business organizations and government(s) alike. Finally, all deliberations on Covid-defeating plans and blueprints have to stop at the one and only solution- vaccination and it’s here the frustration expands. The largest vaccine-manufacturing country in the world has so far managed to inoculate only 16% of its 18+ population and to extend the coverage to 40 % by August-end, right from now, around 1 crore people need to be vaccinated daily.

As this seems impossible, the state administrations must act as strict and responsible guardians. All measures necessary that would shield citizens to the maximum must be kept ready. Arunachal must start doing the homework at once.