Corona is once again on a rise in Jharkhand. The number of infected persons has almost reached 1000 figure in the State, with the figure reaching above 400 in the State Capital, putting the Ranchi district administration on alert mode.
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Kumar on witnessing the seriousness of the situation has directed district administration to intensify corona testing. Directives have been issued to carry out corona tests at major temples including Pahari Mandir as the number of devotees has increased at temples due to the ongoing Shravan month.
The district administration has constituted a district level Covid task force which will carry out corona tests at crowded places, such as Ranchi-Hatia railway station, bus stand and airport also. In the meeting, the DC said that the test is necessary for the prevention of Corona infection. For protection, people should follow other necessary precautions, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
At the same time, the DC has appealed that those who have symptoms of corona, should get tested at the camp being set up by the administration. 80,000 Rapid Antigen Test Kits and 48,000 VTM Test Kits are available for use of which all MOICs have been instructed.
The DC has also instructed to intensify vaccinations at schools for which school wise data should be prepared there after vaccination at schools should be carried out. As per District administration directive it will be the responsibility of the principal to collect the Aadhar card of the children and prepare them mentally for vaccination.
Vaccine is the main weapon to prevent the increasing corona infection, but Jharkhand is lagging behind in taking it. A total of 1.56 crore people above the age of 18 years have taken both the doses. At the same time, the trend is even more worrying in the case of taking booster doses. According to the health department data, only 2.8 per cent of the people have taken the booster dose so far. According to Dr. Devesh, Assistant Professor, RIMS, the main reason for this is to pay for the booster dose. Now that the Center has made it free, it is expected that once again the booster dose will be accelerated.
Sources said that people are rest assured by taking both the doses, but as there is a possibility of the fourth wave, for that booster dose is very important, because this is the only way to keep oneself safe.
If the infection is controlled in the future, the vaccine may not be needed. But, if it persists, you may have to have a booster dose every year. For example, influenza vaccine has to be given every year, because the form of influenza also changes.