Fight against Covid-19 is far from over

CONFIRMATION by the Health Department of the presence in South Africa of new variants from India and the UK is further vindication that the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over.

A statement by the department said that the country had 11 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant discovered in the UK, and four cases of the B.1.617.2 variant found in India. This should not come as a surprise, as the rapid spread of the virus last year was a result of globalisation and the ease of travel.

As countries ease their restrictions and travel becomes easier, the virus and its new variants will continue to spread. This will remain a challenge for governments for some time to come and will be compounded if citizens disregard their own safety protocols and drop their guard with the easing of restrictions.

Hyper-vigilance remains crucial and the onus is not just on the Health Department or government to prevent a third wave in South Africa. In the UK, the government has warned of a potential “roll back” of some lockdowns if any new variants prove resistant to vaccines. This could also be the case in other countries as vaccine efficiency will be tested by new variants.

The rapid rise of new cases in the Free State is indicative of the consequences of dropping one’s guard in the face of a pandemic. The Health Department spokesperson in the province, Mondli Mvambi, said this about ignoring health and safety protocols: “Do not participate in events and activities or social gatherings or congregate in settings that compromise non-pharmaceutical interventions.”

The pandemic has had implications for the way people socialise and the limitations may appear claustrophobic at times.

However, the fight against Covid19 will be one that will require resilience and the adoption of measures that will require personal responsibility for some time to come.