New Delhi: The second wave of coronavirus infections is spreading rapidly in India and the cases may continue to rise for the next few days.
An attempt was made to discipline the people even travelling individually in their cars which they resisted. However, all this has given fertile ground for the spread of coronavirus across the country including Delhi.
From the hospitals to cremation grounds, there is a queue everywhere. These lines are horrifying. The wailing family members have nowhere to go.
The menace of Covid-19 began in February last year. It was initially taken as a temporary phenomenon, but it was not going to be so.
In April 2021, the virus became so debilitating. It was visualized neither by the government nor by the people. If the government was confident to control the virus, people had pinned their hopes on the vaccine. The new wave of COVID-19 has turned everything upside down.
The virus is not only killing people but is causing many other losses, which cannot be counted or accounted for. Meanwhile, the people of Delhi are in trauma.
APRIL PROVES TO BE A CRUEL MONTH
In April, Delhi has seen a meteoric rise in corona cases. The AAP government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was left with no option but to impose the weekend curfew. More restrictions can be imposed as has been hinted at by Chief Minister Kejriwal himself in his press conference. The message is loud and clear. If things do not improve, Delhi will again be locked.
AVAILABILITY OF BEDS IN HOSPITALS
The way the number of corona cases is increasing has left hospitals with fewer beds for patients. In most Delhi government-run hospitals, very few beds are left for patients now. The data suggest that Delhi has been reporting nearly 15,000 cases almost every day for quite some time now.
In most government hospitals, less than five thousand beds are lying vacant. This is the situation when the government has ordered to set up 875 beds in banquet halls, sports complexes and schools. In his press conference, Chief Minister Kejriwal said that efforts are on to create 2,500 beds at the Radha Swami Satsang complex.
It is hoped that the Delhi government would be able to add around 6,000 more beds in the next two to four days. To increase the number of beds, hotels and banquet halls are being attached with the nearest hospitals. All these beds will be monitored by the doctors and paramedical staff of these hospitals.
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This has also been stated that in November last year the Central government had given 4100 beds but this time when the corona case is increasing at a higher pace only 1800 beds have been made available to the city-state government.
In the Central government hospitals, there are 10,000 beds. The Delhi government has sought at least 5,000 beds. Health and other related constraints will certainly disturb you but the figure of deaths will jolt you from within.
HUGE DIFFERENCE IN NUMBER OF DEATHS
According to the data released by the Delhi government on different days, the death toll has been somewhere between 100 and 150. However, the figures from the three municipal corporations and crematoriums in Delhi are telling a different story.
These figures are so frightening that the Delhi government was forced to announce the weekend curfew.
FIRST DAY OF WEEKEND CURFEW
On the first day of the weekend curfew, police could be seen on duty in different areas of Delhi. In many areas, leaders launched a sanitation campaign. But in some areas, people are still found to be careless in taking precautions. The situation is such that people are still going out of their houses unnecessarily and without giving it a second thought. The situation has become so frightening that labourers have started fleeing back to their native places fearing lockdown.
PAIN TO MIGRANT WORKERS
The pain of last year’s lockdown has begun haunting the migrant workers once again. The only difference this time is that migrant labourers, who last year walked from Delhi to their destinations against all odds, want to reach their homes as soon as possible.
They do not want to suffer the trauma of the lockdown again. If the situation continues to be beyond control, then the day is not far when once again there will be crowds at Anand Vihar bus terminus like last year, and the government issuing orders from the Secretariat will have no answers. So take care. Don’t forget to put on a mask. Be safe and stay at home. Do not leave your homes unnecessarily.
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