Lowering our guard well before taming the deadly Covid-19 virus has been identified by virologists as one of the main reasons behind the recent surge in the country’s Corona cases. Experts have appealed citizens to follow restrictions imposed earlier to prevent the spread of the disease. The government eased restrictions as the number of Corona cases have gone down considerably over the last few months. But now the situation demands review of the ban on large gatherings, punishments for non-use of mask, etc. in order to thwart any chances of a fourth wave creating havoc similar to the previous three. The pandemic has killed five lakh, 24 thousand and 715 persons till date. At present, Maharashtra tops the states where the number of Covid cases have recently been on the rise. The state has witnessed over 80 per cent rise in Corona cases on a single day. Like previous occasions, the disease is spreading fast among the upper strata of society and a number of Bollywood stars have already been declared positive for the virus. It shows that the time is still not yet ideal for any form of social gathering. It may be noted that Mumbai and Pune were the venues of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and sizeable crowds gathered in the stadiums to enjoy the games. Experts are certain that the tournament has played a significant role in spreading the disease once again. They have also warned that sooner than later, the situation in Gujarat may also be equally alarming as the final of the said cricket tournament was held there in front of a packed house.
The situation is no different in the eastern part of the country as states like West Bengal have also reported an increase in the number of Covid cases during the last few days. Already, demands are being raised not to allow the entry of spectators in the preliminary matches of Asian Cup Football Championship, where more than 50 thousand people are expected to throng at the stadium to watch the battle for the coveted cup. However, some experts do not see the recent spurt in Covid cases as a threat to public health due to its low severity. They argue that in most cases, it has been found that people are suffering from mild symptoms, for which hospitalisation is not required. But such an observation cannot be a cause of comfort as a mutation of the virus may take place at any time and make it lethal. To judge the gravity of the situation, the states should undertake risk-assessment study to ensure that the country does not lose the gains achieved so far in fighting against the pandemic. Efforts should be made both by the government and citizens to prevent the lethal virus from raising its ugly head once again.