A dip in the current strain of the covid-19 pandemic in Jammu & Kashmir like many other parts of the country has undoubtedly reduced the intensity of fears and apprehensions about a prolonged lockdown in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu region but still people have to continue strict adherence to covid appropriate behaviour (CAB) as Lt Governor Manoj Siha recently said “ lives matter the most”. Encouraging it is that amid a dip in the ongoing strain of covid-19 pandemic the central government has announced to bring back in it’s control the covid vaccination drive for the purposes of taking the vaccine to the target population in short time. Central Government taking away the control of covid vaccination drive from the state and UT governments does not mean that state and UT governments are absolved of the responsibilities given to them in carrying out the vaccination drive . The Jammu & Kashmir Government too like other state and UT governments will have to execute the vaccination drive as usual but it won’t have issues of vaccine shortage from now onwards till the end of the vaccination drive as the responsibility to ensure required supply of covid vaccines has been taken by the central government itself. Dip in the current strain of the covid-19 pandemic does not mean that Jammu & Kashmir is now a covid free territory and return of a new strain of this deadly pandemic is completely ruled out. Government has to take lessons from the covid appropriate behaviour maintained by several western counties even after a remarkable dip in the recent strain of the pandemic.
Keeping in view the fact that our healthcare system is not strong enough to withstand the pressures of any new covid-19 strain of greater intensity the government has to ensure strict adherence to the covid appropriate to block the arrival of a third wave of covid-19 pandemic with greater intensity. The dip in the second wave is giving us a chance to remain alert for blocking the arrival of any new wave of covid-19 pandemic as this is the only way to save the human lives from more deadly attack of this deadly virus .
As such the Jammu & Kashmir Government in the beginning of the recently launched unlock process has to continue it’s strong vigil over the people’s strict adherence to covid appropriate behaviour during the unlock periods in busy markets and government offices to ensure that carelessness in following the covid appropriate behaviour does not result in the return of the second wave with greater intensity as the first wave also returned with greater intensity in March this year. The government has to show zero tolerance against too much crowding, too little social distancing and violation in mask use in markets and government offices as this is the only way to block the return of any new strain of covid-19 pandemic in Jammu & Kashmir. Keeping in view the fact that our healthcare system is not strong enough to withstand the pressures of any new covid-19 strain of greater intensity the government has to ensure strict adherence to the covid appropriate to block the arrival of a third wave of covid-19 pandemic with greater intensity. The dip in the second wave is giving us a chance to remain alert for blocking the arrival of any new wave of covid-19 pandemic as this is the only way to save the human lives from more deadly attack of this deadly virus .
