Corona Second Wave: It’s Time To Be Extra Cautious

When we were warned of the second wave back then, people did not believe and found solace in the idea that the pattern of the virus could be variable or erratic sooner or later. But, the nightmare is already here. India is being struck with the second wave of the pandemic. Just when everyone is about to become optimistic and reopen their economies, things went back all over again.

Many cities have issued night curfews and warning amid the spike in Covid19 cases. But unfortunately, most of us seem unworried and apathetic towards the prevailing situation. We have markets filled with hundreds of people, especially with no masks and flouting social distancing. In spite of single-day surge irregularities, the cases seem to not bother the public. As we have currently eight states witnessing a spike in cases, Telangana reported 313 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday (March 18). The single-day number has always been under 200-mark from the past couple of months and the new number is proof that we are entering into the second wave.

Moreover, 140 students and teachers have been tested positive in the last two days in Telangana. Hence, CM KCR is about to take a decision on closing down the schools again. The latest updates of the state are – 15 students have been tested positive from Kasturba Vidyalaya in Siricilla district. Today, 17 students have been tested positive in Jagtial along with five other teachers. Simultaneously, 246 people have been tested positive in Andhra after conducting 31K samples.

It is extremely vital to have awareness by now on how to survive a pandemic with fewer casualties and how to implement social distancing more effectively. The virus is no more a novelty and in fact, it is now a known entity. We don’t have to puzzle out what’s going on before facing it all over again. Maharastra has been hit with 2800 new cases today and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued fresh guidelines for Mumbaikars. From March 22, people visiting malls and shopping centres will have to undergo antigen tests or carry a negative RT-PCR report.

Not only India, but the situation in the world is also particularly worrying. Paris is all set to go into a month-long Covid lockdown as the country fears the third wave. Prime Minister Jean Castex confirmed that France has recorded more than 35,000 new infections within the past 24 hours. Therefore, judging by the sudden surge in the number of cases, the wave could become very serious. We cannot give people a false sense of security because the pandemic is far from over. It is a collective phenomenon for which we must be prepared wholly. Stay safe!