Chain sequence of violating SOPs : Climbing cases, deaths
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 03 2020 -

Something, somewhere is terribly wrong. There is no sign of the curve flattening and the number of positive cases is increasing with each passing day.

Not rocket science technology but common sense says that the more positive cases there are, the more serious cases there will be.

The more serious cases there are, the more pressure on the hospitals, particularly on RIMS, JNIMS, Shija Hospitals, Raj Medicity and others where the more severe Covid positive patients are admitted to.

And the more serious cases there are, the more number of deaths.

Manipur has already recorded 290 deaths, as on December 1 and the total number of positive cases has already crossed the 25 thousand mark.

As repeatedly pointed out in this column, the figure of deaths' and infected may pale when compared with other bigger and hugely populated States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka or nearer home Assam, but for a State like Manipur, where the total population is about 30 lakhs, the number of deaths and the' number of positive cases is worrying.

It has been a long journey from the day when Manipur recorded her first positive case in the person of a young girl from Thangmeiband on March 24 this year.

Fast forward to December, that is by 8 months and the figure of 25 thousand plus from one case should underline how fast the virus has spread amongst the people.

Again consider the reality-positive cases first came only from people who had returned from different parts of the country, but now most of the fresh cases are from people who have had no significant travel history in the recent past.

Community transmission is a technical term and while the ICMR/GoI may have its own yardsticks of proclaiming this stage, the fact stands that the virus has been infecting people who have not stepped outside the boundary of Manipur in months/years or not even once!

It is against this backdrop that a group of doctors, all former officials who served the people and the State in different capacities announced that community transmission is a reality in Manipur.

From one single positive case at the fag end of March to over 25 thousand cases in December, not to speak of 290 dead as on December 1 and clearly the virus is having a free run.

An insensitive public is perhaps just the right script for the virus to run amok and it was with a reason why Chief Minister N Biren took it upon himself to announce that late admission to hospital is one primary reason for the increasing number of deaths.

This is a point which The Sangai Express had already highlighted, quoting Dr Kh Palin, Managing Director of Shija Hospitals some time back.

A clear example that people don't listen, specially when sense is talked by knowledgeable people.

The rising number of positive cases can also be attributed to the manner in which SOPs are violated by the people on a regular basis.

Move out only when it is necessary is a message that has been repeated many times, but a look at any of the roads in Imphal will testify how this suggestion has been clobbered for a big six by the people.

As a young doctor put up on his Facebook status, the logic is, the more the SOPs are violated, the more positive cases there will be.

The more positive cases there are, the more serious cases there will be and the more serious cases there are the more deaths there would be.

Moreover there have also been reports of people shying away from taking the test to establish their Covid status and Manipur seems to be penning the perfect script for the virus to play havoc with the lives of the people.

This is the sad reality.