Now that the restrictions imposed to check the spread of Covid-19 have been eased in Jammu and Kashmir like other parts of the country, both the people and the state administration have to be extra vigilant and confront the situation in such a way that would ensure that the deadly virus is not provided a field day to destroy human lives. There are some disturbing reports pouring in that suggest that the people are not following the guidelines issued by health experts. They have to understand the gravity of the situation and take all precautionary measures to defeat the transmission of the deadly virus. The restrictions have been relaxed but that does not mean that people should behave the way they used to pre-Covid-19 threat. Life styles have to change, human contact is to be minimized and masks are to be made a permanent feature of our daily attire. People have to understand that the restrictions were not imposed as a law and order measure but these were necessitated due to the threat of the spread of coronavirus and that the virus has not vanished. It is very much here and thus people need to take precautionary measures to save their lives and that of others.
With the number of infected people soaring, the administrative quarantine centres are becoming overcrowded and there is every likelihood that these centres become the hub of infections. Need is to tackle this crisis scientifically and logically. As suggested by several experts, the administration should only shift those infected people to administrative quarantine centres who are symptomatic. Asymptomatic people, testing positive, should be advised home quarantine. That would not only decongest the administrative quarantine centres but would also help containing the spread of virus. Besides, the administration has to wake up to the reality that most of the hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir too have becomes hubs of the virus. There have been some cases where the patients were admitted to the hospitals for different ailments but after remaining indoors, they tested positive for the Covid-19. Recently a young man from Kupwara district was admitted in the hospital as he was attacked by some persons and injured critically. He lost the battle of life and tested positive for Covid-19. As per his family sources he was healthy and had no symptoms of the infection. It seems that he contracted the infection within the hospitals where he was being treated. The administration need to take the issue very seriously and ensure that the hospitals are de-infected regularly minimizing the risk of spread of Covid-19. This is a serious issue which can’t be dealt with on bureaucratic levels only. The administration has to take doctors and other health experts on board and devise a strategy with their inputs.
