The unlock process has begun only after a steady decline both in the no of positive cases and as well as the deaths of covid patients across Jammu & Kashmir and as such the response of the people to the unlock measures of the government has to revolve around a strategy focused on testing and vaccination. Jammu & Kashmir Government like several state governments across the country has increased its testing capacity by using RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test kits and fast pacing the ongoing vaccination drive. Though increasing testing capacity and fast tracking vaccination drive as a two pronged preventive strategy of the government has reduced the intensity of the spread of the current strain of the covid-19 pandemic across Jammu & Kashmir but yet again the dip in no of positive cases and as well as deaths of covid patients varies from district to district and as such decisions on easing restrictions could also be different in different districts. So now in the emerging situation the onus lies more on the people and less on the district administrations in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu province. A calculated preventive response to the situation is the only way out in the prevailing situation and as such neither too-late nor too-early is the most suitable way for carrying forward the ongoing unlock process keeping in view the fact that both the covid containment and as well as restoration of commercial and institutional activities are the matters of equal importance. The right way to take right decisions at right time on unlock process in the districts could be daily evaluation of the district level data about the no of daily cases and deaths of covid patients.
Decisions of unlock process as mentioned above can be different at different places but there is absolutely no scope to lower the guard in battle against the second phase of the covid-19 pandemic to block the arrival of a possible third wave of the pandemic in Jammu & Kashmir. Undoubtedly pandemic has changed the lives and consequently their livelihoods, but the unlock process has to be carried forward on the basis of local data in the districts. By all standards of understandabilities government has to be flexible in decision and community has to show cooperation for smoothening the entire district wise unlock process.
The powers on unlock process as such have to be delegated to Deputy Commissioners and Divisional Commissioners of both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu province can have the authority and power to oversee the entire unlock process in the districts. Both the government and as well as the people have to keep in mind that according to the guidelines of World Health Organisation full scale normalcy is advisable and appreciable only when the testing positivity rate drops below 5% in any area may it be any state or any district. So decisions of unlock process as mentioned above can be different at different places but there is absolutely no scope to lower the guard in battle against the second phase of the covid-19 pandemic to block the arrival of a possible third wave of the pandemic in Jammu & Kashmir. Undoubtedly pandemic has changed the lives and consequently their livelihoods, but the unlock process has to be carried forward on the basis of local data in the districts. By all standards of understandabilities government has to be flexible in decision and community has to show cooperation for smoothening the entire district wise unlock process.
