It has taken only 10 days for doubling of daily Covid caseloads in the country and even if only a few states have been found to be the chunk contributors, unofficially the apprehension is very much alive that the nation-wide second wave is just beginning to unfold. Last 24 hours have been deeply disturbing as 62,258 new cases were added, making it the biggest single-day hike since October last year. It seems it’s going to be a rerun of the exponential pattern of growth as in terms of percentage of successive daily additions, it’s now more than 5+ %. Experts have opined that if a full-fledged outburst of the second wave becomes a reality it will be more painful for the country only since the health services providing capabilities are already overstressed and the manpower is also exhausted. All those who have been tracking the Covid graph must be fairly knowledgeable that encroachment of ‘laxity’ actually started with the festive season and it’s still going on. With the fall in cases that resulted in a kind of national overconfidence, all kinds of tests also became non-obligatory and that the undetected segment have been the silent carriers and spreaders is much evident now. However, unlike the 2020 scenario, thankfully there is an antidote which is the vaccine. When the gates will be opened up for all is the biggest question. But it must be as early as possible.
After a major restructuring of the category-wise vaccination timeline, from April 1, all above 45 years, irrespective of comorbidity history will be eligible for taking the shots. It can be said the decision wouldn’t have been taken by the Central Health Ministry if the scenario didn’t change for the worse so suddenly. Now there is a further round of deep thinking whether to include the under 45 into the inoculation drive. Union Health Minister on Friday has hinted that the umbrella would be widened soon. The sooner the ‘soon’ comes the better as if it’s a pan-nation repetition of the marauder run now going on in Maharashtra, it will be more disastrous than the first edition. For the five poll-bound states/UTs, the first phase of assembly elections of which started from Saturday, danger is looming large. West Bengal is exceptionally unfazed and the discipline and vigil seen during the Bihar polls in November last is totally absent and as such it is more susceptible than the rest of the lot.
No dearth of vaccine stocks, exports have also been curbed and a mass consensus to participate is also there. What’s absent is the ability to take correct decisions at the correct time. Vaccination must be opened up for all, right now. 

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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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