Many would like to believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is all over as it enters the fourth year in succession but the surge in infection in some countries over the past few weeks tells otherwise. The spike in COVID cases in some nations has forced the government of India to take preventive measures by making it mandatory for passengers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand to upload RT-PCR negative test report on the Air Suvidha portal before their departure. More than a dozen countries have imposed similar restrictions for travellers from China amid growing concern over the surge in cases even as the country dismantled zero-COVID policy and mass testing last month. This was sparked by the lack of reliable data from the administration as the National Health Commission stopped publishing daily nationwide infection and fatalities. Beijing’s admission that it has become "impossible" to track the scale of the outbreak while claiming the infection to be "under control" has failed to convince various nations as it is replete with ambiguity. Timely release of reliable data is required to effectively contain the spread of the virus in the country. It will also help governments across the world to prepare to tackle the invisible virus. However, China appears to have not learned lessons from the devastating previous waves.
Meanwhile, there is relative calm this time around and many appear to care less about the disease even as a possible new wave looms large. Some may think reactivation of surveillance measures is unnecessary, but we should not forget what the world had experienced a couple of years ago. Complacency crept in after the initial panic and lockdown in 2020 but the devastating second wave caught the world unawares, infecting millions of people and cutting the lives of millions short as healthcare centres were overwhelmed by infected patients. The price the world had to pay for lowering it’s guard after the first wave was huge. So, only preventive measures can help avoid a similar situation in future. This has to be complemented by public support. People should cultivate the practice of maintaining hygiene both at home and public places to prevent as well as control the pandemic. Getting vaccinated, frequent washing of hands and wearing of face mask, especially when one is unwell, will go a long way in mitigating the spread of not only the COVID-19 but also all types of communicable diseases. It is better to be safe than sorry.