There shouldn’t be any ambiguity that the still ongoing determined run of 2nd Covid wave in Arunachal Pradesh has been due to the Delta variant. The spread has been so extensive that even after near-full-fledged lockdowns and stringent containment measures, both in state capital and across district headquarters, cases are rising. It’s probably not any time soon the daily recoveries will get bigger in size than infections. The national picture is equally blurred as it appears that last week’s sharp decline was only a temporary phenomena and the graph’s upward rise (both in terms of daily cases and casualties) over the last few days presumably carry two possibilities- that the 2nd wave will see an extended tenure or the 3rd wave might have made an onset. The Centre on Friday once again has parroted the appeal of keeping the guards intact. While this is no doubt important, inadvertent laxities are unavoidable. Hence, it needs to be repeated for one more time that vaccination must be expedited.  
Notwithstanding the current pressure the state is facing due to daily recoveries continuously being overwhelmed by new infections, a reflection that Covid transmission chain is lengthening unabated, it’s the low population factor that should turn out to be a blessing. According to the State Covid Bulletin of July 8, already 70% of beneficiaries under the 18+ age group have been inoculated with the 1st dose and a 19% coverage with the 2nd dose is also not an unhealthy figure. If the current pace is maintained, by the end of the current month a 100% coverage (dose 1) can be a distinct possibility as also a near 50% for dose 2. The state then will be having the full month to reach its ultimate target- a full coverage of the entire adult population within August end. The way the District Administrations, with help of medical teams, frontline health workers and panchayat representatives are initiating novel measures to negate vaccine hesitancy is commendable. The tempo needs to be kept alive all throughout the next one and a half month since one single left-out will entail danger for all would-be contacts. A quota of 3 lakh doses has been sought by the state for reaching the target and it’s not a big figure that the Centre will be unable to provide. However, concern will remain as it’s due to shortage alone, the national vaccination rate has dipped. From a mind-boggling figure of 88 lakh on June 21 and the awe-inspiring ones of 60-70 lakhs till June 27, it’s around 40 lakhs or below on an average currently.
Arunachal must stick to the efforts in reaching its vaccination target rather than getting overwhelmed by the occasional gusts of unnerving figures. 

---

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

<< Back to News List