With more infectious variants of the COVID-19 virus now reaching India, this is no time to drop our guard
A cursory drive through any Indian city or town will make anyone believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is past us. In fact, outside cities like Delhi, even face mask usage levels seem to have dropped. Snatches from the crowds gathered at the recently concluded Test in Chennai were alarming because they showed many fans either not wearing masks at all or wearing them in a wrong fashion, not covering their mouth and nose properly. After a few months of an enforced lockdown and several more months of economic and social inactivity, many Indians seem to have expressed themselves by venturing out. However, it is very likely that the reports of a declining caseload and fewer fatalities from COVID-19 are offering a false sense of security and even inspiring an increasing number of Indians to take it easy. Assertions by some administrators and reports that India might have achieved “herd immunity” are also among the reasons behind the lax attitude currently on display on most Indian streets. Yes, India might have achieved some degree of herd immunity and the oft-repeated mantra of India’s high pathogen load contributing to this could well be true, but until more studies are conducted on this subject, it would be wrong to make assumptions. This is particularly true in light of the latest reports emerging that the Brazilian and South African mutations of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in India.
While there is no conclusive evidence so far that these mutations are deadlier, the rapid deterioration of the public health system in the Amazonian city of Manaus, thanks to the new mutation, should be worrying. Especially since officials in Manaus had also believed that the city had achieved a level of “herd immunity” a few months ago. It is also pertinent to remember that evidence released by vaccine manufacturers such as AstraZeneca, who are collaborating with the Serum Institute of India (SII), have shown that the existing vaccines may not provide the high degree of protection against the new mutations that they did against the initial virus. As India rolls out its mass vaccination programme, this should be a reason of worry for Indian administrators. The new cases with the mutated virus have to be contained before they can cause a major outbreak just when India’s economy is beginning to recover. And while one expects the authorities — bureaucratic, healthcare and political — to take the right steps to contain the outbreak, it should not take away from the responsibility of the public at large. We should continue to maintain an appropriate degree of social distancing, keep safe and hygienic conditions and, most important, continue to wear face masks as much as possible. We cannot afford another outbreak, especially a more virulent one. Medical science has worked at double speed to ensure effective vaccines but we, the people, cannot abdicate our responsibility towards ourselves, our families and the society at large.