Starting this month, a new set of Covid-19 guidelines is in place. Home Ministry directives make it clear that restrictions can be imposed by local authorities in their jurisdictions, depending on the emerging situations. Situations differ from region to region and from city to city. This is the right way forward to limit the spread and allow economic and social activities to carry on in a guarded manner across the country.
A wholesale imposition of curbs in the forms of lockdown and shutdown has proven to be disastrous at the very start, since March end this year. There was little understanding as to how the pandemic would behave at that time. Now, the world is more enlightened as to how a balance is drawn between checking the virus spread and keeping economic activities in good shape. This is no time for a blame-game as to what went wrong; this is time to collectively push for an early exit from the scourge of this Chinese-inspired virus.
Curfew can be imposed where need be; as in Ahmedabad in the post-Diwali days, and in Punjab as well. Less-affected areas can still feel free. The curbs are being progressively eased in the past few months after the hard-edged approach in the initial months. Borders can no more be sealed, as the new advisory stresses, and inter-state movement need not be curtailed. This is important to push the engines of growth. Train services must eventually return to normal; so should air traffic. Schools need to return to normal classes but priority is on the health of the kids. Swimming pools etc., can wait for the situations to ease as they are not an essential part of daily life. Health is more important. In fact, the new guidelines have allowed all normal activities in areas other than containment zones.
The pharma firms involved in the production of vaccines are seriously taking matters forward. A legal challenge has come from one volunteer; which was only to be expected. Yet, it needs be ascertained whether the safety of individuals taking vaccines would be compromised. A cent per cent guarantee is out of question. The visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to three pharma firms a few days ago shows the government is raising its state of preparedness vis-à-vis storage, distribution and jabs.
India’s active Covid Positive cases now stand at 4,35,000 plus cases. The national capital reported a 30-plus per cent rise in Covid-positive cases in November alone, while the fatalities rose by 29 per cent. This shows the gravity of the present situation.