Resurging virus

The deadly coronavirus is back, and this time with a vengeance. Doctors and public health experts are now witnessing an unprecedented acceleration of the spread — far greater and deadlier than what we saw in the first wave. The situation, particularly in Europe, is rather critical as more than 200,000 novel coronavirus cases are being reported across the region in a single day. The pressure on hospitals has revived, forcing healthcare systems across the continent to devise contingency plans in order to cope with rising number of patients. It has now become evident that this second wave “constitutes an imminent threat to society, with a potentially immense toll in terms of human lives and a devastating economic impact”.

The situation in Pakistan is also turning out to be worrying. With the country witnessing a 40% rise in positive cases during the last four days, many have expressed a sense of disquietude over the increasing number of hospital admissions and deaths from the deadly virus — a concern also asseverated by other countries. This points to the fact that the virus is mutating rather quickly, allowing it to fight back against our immune system. It is obvious that when the spread exacerbates out of control, the government will re-impose the smart lockdown strategy which was only successful owing to the high recovery rate. This time, since the virus appears to be much stronger, chances are that the strategy is less likely to work.

The truth is that the government and concerned authorities have failed to learn a single thing from the first wave, which indicated rather clearly that the healthcare system of the country needs to be developed and revamped in order to absorb the effects of the pandemic. Regardless of whether or not the novel coronavirus cases declined, this should have been done. Unfortunately, with the second wave in its adolescent stage, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over us. In such dire circumstances, apart from resorting to prayers, it is important for each citizen to make sure that they follow the necessary SOPs. Safety is in collective action.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2020.

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