It is timely that the Central Government issued a warning to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, and Maharashtra against the potential spread of Covid-19, HINI, and H3N2. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. The six States have been instructed by the Government to concentrate on testing, genome sequencing for the required Covid-19 samples of overseas travellers, and the adoption of Covid-compliant behaviour.
Fortunately, there isn't much to indicate that things are about to spiral out of control, even though two suspected H3N2 virus-related deaths have been reported in Maharashtra: one was an MBBS student who had both H1N1 and H3N2 infections, and the other was a 74-year-old Nagpur resident who tested positive for the virus.
Nine districts nationwide had Covid-positivity rates greater than or equal to 10%, according to The Pioneer's examination of the Covid cases reported over the period of March 8–14.
Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are just a few of the states that span the full length and breadth of the nation. That is a good sign that states are also preparing for the challenge, should it materialise. In contrast to Puducherry, which has closed its schools until March 26th, the Delhi State Government has established isolation wards. H3N2 is thought to be to blame for the extremely terrible flu season that we have been experiencing. It can result in a protracted, severe illness that may require hospitalisation. As we observed, there may potentially be fatalities.
The Centre and State governments must make sure that safeguards in any way do not cause panic or knee-jerk reactions at any level, even as they take precautions. The fear-based atmosphere, lockdowns, and the resulting disruptions have become too much for both the populace and the economy. It is important to note that, in contrast to three years ago, no medical professional has yet voiced concerns about a coming pandemic or even an outbreak.
Sure, it's important to be ready for the worse, but this shouldn't cause any annoyances. The economy has only recently recovered to its pre-Covid levels. Our growth engine isn't exactly turbo-charged even now.
Although Raghuram Rajan, the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, may have exaggerated the state of the economy, our growth rate right now is far from ideal. In light of this, a careless remark from a high-ranking government official or a statement that alluded to a medical emergency would be disastrous for the economy.
In addition, it would be extremely challenging for them to deal with yet another round of limitations, mobility difficulties, and psychological damage. The Covid epidemic taxed everyone's patience and persistence, and no one is in a position to suffer the same torment. The four-step approach of testing, tracking, treating, and immunising is already being used. On that front, there shouldn't be any laxity.
