Some people might have huge stocks of food and medicine but majority of people depend on hand-to-mouth feeding
Efforts to find Covid-19 vaccine are still going on countries like Russia, Italy, Germany and premier institutes like Oxford University or other leading institutes of the world. However, the question is that why has it taken such a long time to find the vaccine? Meanwhile, as the cases increase around the globe, countries like the US and India are finding it hard to cope-up. On the other hand, there is a huge surge in the number of cases in Jammu and Kashmir as well. This is only because people are being irresponsible in their approach by arranging large scale marriages or other social gatherings. In these circumstances, our priority should have been simple marriages with less people.
Also, the lockdown strategy has expired because it is impossible to restrict people for too long. There are people who might have huge stocks of food and medicine but majority percentage of people depend on hand-to-mouth feeding. As the lockdown has been eased to a large extent, markets, public places, malls are being thrown open to the public. The administration has also laid rules and regulations for general public which need to be followed strictly. Masjids and other religious places too have been thrown open according to new regulations.
Nevertheless, it seems that life has to be lived along with the pandemic now till vaccine is found. As of now, people must share responsibilities and help out with the SOPs. The first and the foremost being wearing of masks at any cost be it in government offices, public places, or any other religious places but we should also keep it in mind that the mask is not only important for our safety but for the safety of other people. On the other hand, shopkeepers, drivers and other office gatekeepers should make sure that those who enter their respective buildings or vehicles should be wearing masks. Use of sanitizers should be included in the daily routine everywhere now.
Ironically, there are people who will socialize with a person who they know personally but at the same time suspect a stranger in order to maintain physical distance. Maintaining social distance should be adopted with everyone not only with strangers. The new Covid-19 mantra for all of us should be: ‘respect all but at the same time suspect all’. This mantra should be adopted as a necessary precautionary measure and a tool to deal with this pandemic. Yet, there are people befooling one another by making silly arguments that the virus is a myth and nothing else. Don’t such people watch daily causalities, people losing their lives one after the other? Even the warriors and unsung heroes, in form of doctors, have lost their lives. We must change our mindset and accept the reality.
The cycle needs to be stopped anyhow. However, it was seen that the rise in cases was too steep at first and it became necessary to impose lockdown which somehow proved to be effective upto a certain degree. Then the lockdown restrictions were lifted due to some reasons to some extent and the cases surged again, people didn’t follow the SOPs, with the result, the administration was forced to re-impose the restrictions again. Now since the restrictions have been eased again, people should understand that it is finally upto them whether they want to get rid of this virus or not and stop being careless.
Like rest of the place, Jammu and Kashmir also witnessed the incidents were the relatives of Covid-19 patients have manhandled the paramedic staff. Everyone should behave politely and respectfully with the staff and surely they deserve the respect because they are the ones at the forefront of continuous threat. Also, those patients who have recovered should firstly thank Almighty and seek the opportunity for the well being of the society by being ready to donate their blood plasma as it has been effective to a large extent. Moreover, not all heroes wear caps, surely those who are donating without beating the drum are the real heroes.
Meanwhile, the exam sessions are going to be held in the coming days. The government needs to strategize effectively and wisely in order to prevent the virus from attacking and infecting the students thereof along with securing the future of students. It is high time that we follow the SOPs everywhere and make sure we advice others to follow them too because we can only help ourselves by helping others.
As they say let us be heroes at our own places and levels to stop this cycle. There is no cause for alarm if proper precautions are taken and we should reside our best hopes on our creator. Remember you might have heard about 3 Rs but let us follow the 3 Cs that is clean hands, clean mouth and clean clothes.
Author is pursuing Masters in Mechanical Engineering
mirbasit.mech@gmail.com