Avoid partisan approach, apathy to conquer Covid

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was spot on, calling Covid-19 the biggest threat to humanity after World War-II, as nations across the globe stare at the possibility of another wave of the pandemic. India is no exception; several states have started showing signs of a new wave. It is welcome that the Union government, realising the threat, has launched a series of measures to lessen its impact.

The work has started right in the national capital, which is in the throes of a third wave, and the Union and the state government have promised to work in tandem. The Delhi government has no plans to reintroduce a lockdown but will tighten the rules and rigorously enforce them. It has decided to keep a special watch on markets where more people congregate, and will hike the fine for not wearing a mask from `500 to `2,000. And most importantly, there will be a house-to-house survey for testing.

The Union government has sent expert teams to several states, which are now witnessing a new surge in the number of infections. The government had done so in the past, too, but it faced the allegations that there were political motives behind it. The teams’ behaviour in several states ruled by parties opposed to the BJP had given credence to the allegations, too. Hopefully, the government has learnt its lessons and would not use the opportunity for politicking this time around. The teams should limit themselves to helping the local administration benefit from their expertise.

We have said in these columns earlier, too, that public health is a matter of concern for the public first, and that a government can do only so much without its cooperation. Reports say people have started taking it easy. Festivals, markets, public transport and entertainment avenues have been flooded. Even political leaders, elected representatives and senior bureaucrats appear in the public either with no masks or wearing them in the wrong way. Such callous attitude will undo all the good work done so far. There must be better awareness among all ranks of the people about the need to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour such as maintenance of social distancing, washing of hands and wearing masks.

The best lesson the micro-organism has taught humanity is that it can be stopped only by the joint efforts of all of its victims; a partisan approach helps it thrive. The United States, which is facing another dreaded run of the virus, is an example.

Back home, the Kerala experience tells a similar story. The state, which performed remarkably in the first phase in containing the pandemic, failed the moment partisan politics took over. Onam was not the only culprit; anti-government agitations too contributed to the spread with the result that the state today contributes more than 10 per cent of the country’s total daily caseload.

Concerted efforts by all the stakeholders is the need of the hour, for there are no human enemies in this war.

The best lesson the Coronavirus has taught humanity is that it can be stopped only by the joint efforts of all of its victims; a partisan approach helps it thrive