With the fresh strain of COVID-19 setting trend of yet another phase of spread ahead of the summer season in Kashmir like several other parts of the country the majority of people are seen attending offices, shopping complexes and other public places without masks . The negligence by majority of population in following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs’) has not been noted as seriously by the law enforcing authorities and covid awareness teams of the health department and private nursing homes and clinics as it should have been. The rising no of positive cases reported in schools and colleges is a wakeup call for both the people and the as well as government in view of the reports about unprecedented spike in the no of positive cases in several parts of the country. Interestingly the fresh strain of coronovirus is spreading faster in hot zones like Mumbai and several parts of Mahrashtra and keeping in view the sharp decline in the intensity of the pandemic spread during winter months not in Kashmir only but also several other parts of the country the people within and outside Jammu & Kashmir need to follow SOPs more forcefully in the coming months of summer months. Taking classes in phases for the purposes of social distancing is a welcome move but allowing students to enter the school premises without masks is a punishable offence.
People have to keep it in their mind that mask a day keeps a doctor away. A simple mask required for protection against covid-19 pandemic costs just Rs 5/- and as such is affordable for even poorest of the poor.
Keeping in view the quality of health system available in Jammu & Kashmir, the people can forcefully fight fresh strain of COVID-19 pandemic only by using masks and following other Covid control measures. Since the rising no of COVID-19 reported from schools and colleges after their reopening is panicking both the parents and as well as the government, any leniency by teachers and the managements of schools and colleges in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu region could put students to bigger health risks in coming summer months. Wisdom demands that stringent measures are taken to enforce COVID-19 SOPs not only in schools and colleges but also at public places particularly hospitals, private nursing homes, parks and gardens, shopping complexes and government offices. The revival of the testing facilities at the Srinagar Air and railways stations on Banihal-Baramulla track for people travelling to Kashmir from other parts of the country could be the most ideal way to keep a check on the fresh strain of COVID -19 pandemic. People have to keep it in their mind that mask a day keeps a doctor away. A simple mask required for protection against covid-19 pandemic costs just Rs 5/- and as such is affordable for even poorest of the poor.
