The coronavirus is not a deadly killer but a terrible infector. It multiplies fast in the human host cell and spreads like wildfire because symptoms of illness, mild or severe, may not show up in 21 days. Symptomatic cases are easy to manage because they are instantly taken away to Covid care facilities. But the asymptomatic individuals keep spreading without anyone knowing they are doing so. Unfortunately, most migrant workers from Odisha have been in Gujarat, West Bengal and elsewhere since ages. Many of them have set up home there. But the unprecedented ‘virus panic' has virtually turned people witlessly desperate to rush back to roots. As per the national norm, during the lockdown period, no matter what, every Indians stranded outside native States were to be treated as local residents in whichever States they got locked in. This did not happen. A majority of the host States were keen to have migrants evicted because they are poor and helpless and looked down upon as suspect carriers of the virus.
Not many State Governments have paid much heed to PM Modi’s call for taking care of all human beings trapped or stranded in their respective regions. Perhaps, focussing attention on these hapless migrants turned out to be a rather difficult job as taking care of locals was a much bigger responsibility of the administration.
Fortunately, Odisha has been doing a splendid job of taking care of all communities, local and migrant, alike. Realising that out-of-State Odias were in utter distress, the Naveen administration decided to bring them back from distant locations with amazing arrangements for quarantine and cure. The sole objective is to ensure no one at home is affected. All the same, it was probably difficult to foresee the inevitability of infection during train or bus journeys, which can never prevent spread of the virus due to very close physical proximity. Besides, the migrant lot is not so sensitised to the strict six-foot social distancing protocol, especially when they are desperate to get home. Hence, the alarming rise in the number of infected in Odisha. With little more prudence and bargaining skill, the State Government could have struck deals with other host Governments by extending material and manpower help. All talkative politicians and sly, work-shirking bureaucrats should have been forcibly transported to locations in Gujarat, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in full personal protection equipments to serve the people.
The virus will ultimately fail to make any noteworthy life claim, as, evidently, its virulence is diminishing fast and people’s immunity is rising appreciably. The whole horrific drama is likely to end up in some kind of a highly specialised ‘herd immunity’ having been achieved sooner than expected. But it is clear that the pressure on the State service agencies will be enormous. All the infected have to be put in hospitals with special attention given to all aspects. That is the big reason why people feel concerned about the Puri Car Festival preparations being in full swing. ‘Social distancing', the only ‘preventive vaccine' at hand, will take a beating when people congregate at a place in religious frenzy. The Car Festival rituals involve too many close-body activities as per the religious norms. For sure, not many will fall sick or succumb to the fragile virus; but the caring, nursing facilities will exert tremendous pressure on the state systems with limited or depleting resources.
It would be divinely appropriate to say here that free ‘over-the-counter' sale of liquor too is perceived as invitation to virus invasion. Spirited creatures craving for alcohol can never be disciplined. Social distancing at liquor shops is only a fantasy. Either the State goes semi-dry with special liquor permits or home delivery alone becomes the norm. Liquor revenue will never slide down if that mode is adopted. The administration has only to experiment just once.
At least two hundred ‘flu viruses' keep waiting for hosts around the globe, nearly 98% of them ordinary ones without power to infect many and cause severe illness. But lately, flu is becoming unmanageable among the elderly and the immuno-weak communities. There is now a critical need for a broad spectrum flu vaccine to be developed. The corona viruses have those typical spikes to cling on to the host cells. These spikes also keep changing length and pointedness in a process called mutation to be able to adapt to any new-species habitat.
It is absolutely true that there’s more than one strain of the new coronavirus moving and shaking the human world. So from hence, the human race shall never be lax about a hitherto underrated flu virus. The theory about different strains of the new coronavirus comes from a study in China. Researchers were studying changes in coronavirus RNA over time to figure out how various coronaviruses are related to each other. They looked at 103 samples of the new coronavirus collected from people and they looked at coronaviruses from animals. It turned out that the coronaviruses found in humans weren’t all the same.
As the coronavirus keeps spreading around the world, it will probably keep changing. Experts may find new strains. But it is impossible to predict how those viral changes will affect mankind. It is still keeping medical and scientific researchers confused. They may have to remain glued to the laboratory desks day in and day out.
Life will never be the same again. The human species is a threatened one already. Precautions are the only way out. Social distancing and disciplined behaviour can save the human race. The deadliest flu viruses are here for good. The heart-rending fact is that vaccine for one may not work for another mutated strain. So, preventive measures alone can save lives. Vaccine business will be the most profitable for a long, long time. Soap, sanitiser and mask making will be cottage industry soon.
Interestingly, for certain, the wealthy and the so-called mighty among humans shall fear to flaunt wealth and power during wedding events the same way as electioneering. The panic situation will not go until miracle drugs land in hand. The human race has to remain civilised like now or else perish more out of immunity loss due to fear of death.
The media and some State officials are merrily spreading more fear than critical information to keep the virus warded off. They invariably keep harping on the rising numbers of the afflicted and the dead, rather than emphasising on how simple it is to remain safe. That is sin.