November has started on a depressing note in the state with 5 deaths due to Covid in the first three days. Full-fledged winter is yet to set in, but the early signs are clear- it’s going to be a more tougher fight compared to the preceding months. Without losing nerves, the State Health Department should devote all its energy and upscale efforts for the crucial months that lie ahead and people should also realize that time has come to show more responsibilities.

It’s apt to recall that at least two months earlier from now, medical experts world over have been repeatedly issuing caveats that winter is more conducive for the virus to make deeper inroads. For the last couple of weeks, virologists in the US and Europe have been racking their brains to find out the most efficacious SOPs that would cater to this winter challenge. The reasons for which the approaching scenario can be fearful are solely scientific. While it has been proven comprehensively based on the basics of virology and microbiology that almost all viruses especially those targeting the respiratory organs thrive during winter, a series of laboratory experiments conducted during these seven-month fight against coronavirus have revealed that SARS-CoV-2, the most deadly of the lot, favours cold, dry conditions, particularly out of direct sunlight. The most vulnerable among the ‘prey’ are the elderly people, particularly with some form of age-related illness. Analysing the recent deaths across many parts of the world where the change of season has already started, it has been found that these illnesses with varied degrees of intensity, medically termed as ‘comorbidities’ manifest in greater proportion compared to summer. For instance, a major portion of the unfortunate deaths due to Covid the state is currently seeing have been invariably due to these pre-existing comorbidities which the Health department should take due notice and devise strategy accordingly with special emphasis on geriatric care. The only option at the moment is to give an improved life-support to the most-susceptible of the populace, the elderly. But until, the awareness among people grows to a greater extent from the one on the current day, danger will persist and a trifle laxity will render all the hard-earned gains of previous months meaningless. Delhi, once again and for the third time has seen a downslide after exemplary recovery and it’s apparent now that ‘success stories’ of this kind are only but ephemeral. Covid can be wiped out only through the vaccine and for the moment the sole escape route is not to get infected at all through religious adherence to SOPs.

But keeping in mind the upcoming winter challenge, the state’s Health Department must review the existing Covid combat strategies with special emphasis on geriatric care.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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