Covid fight not over yet, warn experts

Public health officials warn public not to get complacent and allow virus to regain foothold

Hyderabad: As people across Telangana resumed their normal lives after lifting of the lockdown, it is essential for every one not to get complacent in adhering to Covid appropriate behaviour and in the process end-up allowing the virus to regain a foothold in the community.
It is extremely important for people, especially residing in hotspots under GHMC and urban centres in districts, to learn from the past mistakes of the first and second waves and be extra vigilant and ensure adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour at every level, public health officials here on Sunday said.

The intense lockdown in the last few months had managed to break the transmission chains by making people stay indoors. However, the fact of the matter is that the variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus have not gone anywhere and have continued to circulate. With Telangana lifting the lockdown fully and people now being able to move freely, a small misstep could lead to a surge in Covid infections.

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A few days ago, while interacting with news agencies, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Dr Randeep Gulleria alluded to the same sentiment of a possible surge of infections leading to a third wave if people throw caution to the wind.

“As we have started unlocking, there is again a lack of Covid-appropriate behavior. We don’t seem to have learnt from what happened between the first and the second wave. It will take some time for the number of cases to start rising at the national level. But it could happen within the next six to eight weeks…may be a little longer,” Dr Gulleria was quoted by new agencies.
Sensing the possible risk of lifting lockdowns, on Saturday the Union Home Ministry in its advisory has stressed on a five-fold strategy including regular monitoring of Covid appropriate behaviour among people in the community, testing, tracking, treatment and Covid vaccination, to avoid mass breakout of fresh Covid infections.

The MOHFW has also urged states to keep a close watch on areas that invite crowd gathering like markets, malls, and multiplexes.

“Easing of restrictions in many States has led to resumption of crowding in markets etc. without adherence to the norms of Covid appropriate behaviour. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that complacency does not set in and there is no let-up in adhering to Covid appropriate behaviour,” advisory said.

During earlier interactions with press persons here in Hyderabad, the Director of Public Health (DPH), Dr G Srinivasa Rao and Director of Medical Education (DME), Dr K Ramesh Reddy had urged people to be cautious.

“The intensity of future Covid waves in Telangana will depend on how well people in the State follow Covid appropriate behaviour. Taking precautions while we move on with our lives is the only way out,” Dr Srinivasa Rao said.