Hyderabad (Telangana): Severely alarming are the surge in Covid cases and the consequent deaths that are breaking records on a day to day basis. Already the number of reported Covid positive cases has crossed 1.5 crores and the reported deaths are around 1.8 lakhs. The alarming surge of Covid is sending shivers down the spine among the people in ten States.
The second wave of the pandemic in India witnessed a surge of the South African, UK and Brazilian variety of virus. While engulfing the people, the Covid virus is undergoing many more dangerous mutations. Contrary to the disease symptoms manifested in the first wave of Covid, this time patients are rushing to hospital with complaints of difficulty in breathing. As a result, the State health institutions are throwing up their hands in desperation.
The Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has stated in the first week of this month that the virus is able to spread up to a distance of two meters from the positive patient and in places with high viral load, the virus is spreading through the air. Scientists from Oxford University have also warned that the Coronavirus is spreading through the air. Apart from the nose and mouth, the virus is infiltrating the human body through the eyes also.
Last year’s pandemic has left behind socio-economic devastation of a scale witnessed in multiple wars. Its second wave is throwing greater challenge. With no other go left, Maharashtra announced lockdown and Delhi followed suit. Allahabad High Court ordered lockdown in five worst-affected districts of UP.
As the number of active cases crossed 20 lakhs in the country, there is a shortage of hospital beds, oxygen, ventilators and life support drugs. Though the Center is assuring oxygen supply, vaccine and medicine production, it is for the citizenry to act if the pandemic is to be brought under control. The chances of Covid infection can be averted by 70 per cent by taking precautionary measures.