Tough challenge for concerned stakeholders
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 04, 2021 -

DETECTION of 279 positive cases out of 3649 residents in the virus hotspot Imphal West district in the on-going mass testing drive, state's test positivity rate of 11.18 per cent as of Wednesday crossing well above the national average of 6.57 per cent, 10 curfew violators found to be Covid-19 positive out of over 300 pulled up and tested at the different locations in a single day and the daily fatality count remaining in the double digit make it crystal clear that the fight against the pandemic will be a protracted one and it will need collective effort.

While two days of the mass testing drive recording 7.65 per cent positivity rate underscores that there are many people in the district, who have contracted the infectious disease but are reluctant to confirm their health status either due to ignorance or deliberately concealing the ailment out of fear that he/ she will have to cease livelihood activities, the most disturbing aspect of the pandemic is that people continue to move around and possibly intermingle with others as is evident from 350 curfew violators pulled up from across the state.

To avert further aggravation of the crisis situation it is inevitable that the government proactively involve all stakeholders in containing the pandemic. With formation of committees or task forces at the level of state, assembly constituency and localities for creating awareness on the safety guidelines, reviewing causes for the rapid spread of the disease and recommending effective preventive measures unable to make any significant change on the ground, chief minister N Biren consulting with the religious leaders will hopefully help curb the virus.

However, it is disheartening to note that some committees constituted at the onset of Covid-19 second wave in the state have not been of much help to the government as could be comprehended from the caseload racing towards the 10,000 mark and posing serious threat of crippling the healthcare system.

With daily infections and deaths continued unabated it is but natural to suspect commitment and efficaciousness of these committees, the formation of which were projected as determination of the government to stabilise the situation and save precious lives.

As such, emphasis should be on making every citizen realise the gravity of the situation and to encourage them to contribute towards battling the virus through strict adherence to the Covid-19 standard operating procedure.

With the government singling out public complacency as the primary reason for the state witnessing alarming upsurge in the number of positive cases, the awareness campaign should be intensified as any cost.

It is imperative that the government-constituted publicity committee swing into action and is compatibly funded for it is obvious that no members in the committee would relish executing the assigned task if they were to bear the expenses on their own. Moreover, it is the law enforcement personnel who would be ultimately responsible for implementation of the safety protocols.

If presence of police teams in the residential pockets is more intense during festivals like Diwali to collect their share from the dice game operatives than in the present crisis situation then it could be safely predicted that the people will pay a high price before the virus dies its natural death,

if any. As such, it is desired that the religious leaders who interacted with the chief minister on Wednesday not only pray for the divine intervention but also use their position to prevail upon the believers to strictly follow the safety protocols for the commoners see priests and preachers as the speakers of truth and messengers of the Almighty.