Mantra of test, trace, treat : Worrying low turnout
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 24 2020 -

With 23,400 the figure is worrying. More worrying is the low turnout for the target testing initiative taken up by the Government at Lilong Assembly Constituency and Wangjing Tentha Assembly Constituency where by elections were recently held.

Refusal to get tested is criminal. Period and there can be no two ways about it.

Refusal to get tested means endangering others too, for COVID-19 is not only about an individual being infected.

It is this stubborn and bull headed attitude that needs to be tackled on a war footing.

Already 236 people have died after getting infected with the virus and over 20 thousand people have tested positive.

If these figures are not enough to drill some sense into the heads of certain sections of the people, one wonders what will make them see sense.

Refusing to get tested can be taken to mean that they are more than willing to spread the virus with whoever they come into contact with.

It is this attitude that is unacceptable and at the same time scary too. Covid is not a joke.

The virus should not be taken lightly and it is not for nothing why the three words, Test, Trace and Treat are taken to be the Biblical truth in taking the battle to the virus.

Why was there a Nationwide lockdown?

Does the reluctance of some people to come forward and get tested a reflection that not enough has been done to sensitise the people to the matter at hand?

Should the Government do more? Should there be more awareness campaign?

That such questions need to be raised at this juncture when the virus has already taken a heavy toll on the people should tell something about the mentality of certain sections of the people.

Test, Trace and Treat. These three words can be ignored only at the peril of the people. Get yourself tested. This is the bottom-line.

As repeatedly said in this column, lifting the lockdown does not mean that the virus has been reined in or a cure has been found.

The virus is still out there, ready to infect and ready to spread.

It is with this awareness that people should step out when they have to and not unnecessarily.

The heavy rush in the days leading to Ningol Chakkouba, the fire crackers on Diwali night, the by elections in five Assembly Constituencies were all scripts perfect for the virus to make a smooth landing and then spread at will.

This is what Manipur is going through right now and with experts warning that the virus will get more active in the chill of the winter months, people need to be more wary. This is the bottom-line.

Things can only get worse in the coming days and this is the reality which should not blow over the heads of the people.

Stick to the SOPs spelt out by the World Health Organisation and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Maintain social distancing, always move out with a face mask and wear that mask correctly, wash one's hand with soap and water regularly or with an alcohol based sanitiser.

The virus that one is talking about here is not a joke and people can ignore the threat posed by the virus only at their own peril.

Let the statistics of 236 dead and over 20 thousand infected get into the heads of everyone.