From two to three cases only a few weeks back, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has started reporting around 30 cases a day of Covid-19 patients. When the people here were feeling relaxed that the pandemic, visibly, has been defeated, it has started shoeing its ugly presence once again. Reports from other parts of the country too indicate the same trend. On Sunday, J&K reported 32 fresh positive cases – 17 from Jammu and 15 from Jammu division. Likewise, 19 fresh cases were reported from the UT – seven from Jammu and 12 from Kashmir division. The fluctuating numbers are a message for the general public as well as the administration here that the pandemic is very much here and lowering of guard, in any manner, is not advisable.
Following the decrease in Covid cases, people, as well as the administration has become complacent. There are no messages popping up on social media about wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places. Most of the people on streets are not wearing face masks anymore as if the deadly virus has vanished from the surface of this earth. No, it has not. It is very much here and playing its tricks to catch humans off-guard.
People have to understand that they themselves have to defeat the deadly virus. The government, on its part is doing everything possible to contain the spread of virus and the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered across J&K has crossed 2,31,87,675. However, the vaccines alone cannot defeat the spread of virus. People need to understand that the virus is very much here and is remerging in different and tricky variants and despite the massive vaccination drive, it is going to stay and therefore following the SOPs is the only way to defeat it. People need to adopt Covid-19 SOPs as a new normal because nothing will change immediately. Despite the vaccination drive, the virus is not going to vanish overnight and therefore taking extreme precautions is the only way to ensure safety from this invisible enemy. It is every individual’s responsibility to ensure that he/she helps in breaking the chain of infection and that is possible only if everyone adheres to ongoing SOPs.
People have to behave as responsible citizens and understand that one who doesn’t follow the guidelines is doing utmost disservice to his/her own self, family and the society at large. People should not become complacent as the medical experts are continuously suggesting that even after getting vaccinated, following of SOPs is a must. Wearing masks, maintaining social distance and washing hands frequently are the new norms and people should prepare themselves to follow these for a longer period and it is peoples’ attitude that would help to keep this place safe from the pandemic.
