- The second wave may already have started
By: Attiya Munawer
Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the virus has killed over one million people worldwide, while the number of people infected with the coronavirus has been steadily rising, with 32 million people worldwide infected so far. With the onset of winter, the second wave of the coronavirus is being witnessed in most of the northern countries of the world and more and more people are being affected by it on a daily basis. So far, the USA, Brazil and India have been the countries worst affected by the epidemic, with a total of 19 million people infected to Thursday evening. In recent days, the number of covid-19 victims in Europe was once again increasing, and restrictions and lockdowns, similar to those imposed during the rise of the first wave of the coronavirus, are being re-imposed. The situation is deteriorating in some parts of Pakistan due to the new wave of the coronavirus, so the National Command and Operation Center has decided to lock down the affected areas again.
The coronavirus epidemic had been declining worldwide, but with the end of the summer, the sudden increase in the number of patients is a cause for concern. Due to this, SOPs have been strictly enforced at entry points. The move comes as the number of coronavirus patients in Azad Kashmir is 8.3 percent. In Pakistan, 583 new cases of corona were recorded yesterday, bringing the number of active cases to 8015. The highest number of Corona patients is currently in Sindh, numbering 138,000, followed by Punjab with 99,812 patients. Several wedding halls, restaurants, shops and factories have been sealed in Karachi for violating SOPs. But despite this, a large number of people are not ready to take the coronavirus epidemic seriously, so government SOPs are being ignored, leading to fears of an increase in deaths in the new wave of coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns that before the widespread use of effective vaccines in the future, the coronavirus could cause 2 million deaths worldwide. The head of the World Health Organizations Emergencies Programme, Dr Mike Ryan, says the death toll could rise further if concrete steps are not taken globally.
Therefore, in the case of a global epidemic, the people must adopt a serious and wise attitude and abandon negligence and carelessness, but the government must also realize its responsibility and strictly implement the SOPs. It is a question of collective responsibility, and often the negligence of one individual causes trouble for many. In view of this situation, it is the responsibility of the government to make arrangements to ensure that the people take precautionary measures and any violation not to be overlooked. If the public wants to maintain their daily routines and economic activities, they will have to ensure compliance with the precautionary measures against the coronavirus in winter, then a new wave of corona can be avoided.
There is no doubt that the Pakistani people, with the strong cooperation of the government and the medical sector, have largely managed to prevent deaths from the coronavirus, but the return of the second wave of the coronavirus is once again a cause for concern. Reports of new cases of Coronavirus in Azad Kashmir, Karachi, Islamabad and other parts of the country are eye-opening. The Azad Kashmir and Sindh governments have taken immediate steps to alert the federal and other provincial governments that the response of the system should be restored.
In view of the information that is being received, appropriate steps should be taken to control the situation as soon as possible. The world’s major economic powers, despite all their resources, have failed to control the devastating effects of the epidemic. We have limited resources to deal with the epidemic, so we must ensure that all sections of society follow the precautionary measures. If the return of the coronavirus has resurfaced, there is a need to rekindle the same spirit to prevent this monster from raising its head. The Ministry of Health, the medical department, the government and the World Health Organization should continue to provide relief and assistance to Pakistan so that the second wave of coronavirus does not wreak further havoc.
If the number of corona cases increases, it will lead to lockdown; the economic effects of this year’s lockdown have not faded from people’s memory. If someone is forgetting, they should remember that we cannot cope with the economic effects of the closure for less than six months. If precautions are not taken and another wave of epidemic strikes, there will be many more unusual negative effects on the economy.
There is no denying that the people did not take the coronavirus epidemic as seriously as they should have. If people really want to avoid the effects of the new wave of the coronavirus epidemic, the only solution is to ensure timely safety and precautionary measures. The Prime Minister has rightly said that now we have to take precautionary measures and live with the coronavirus.
Therefore, in the case of a global epidemic, the people must adopt a serious and wise attitude and abandon negligence and carelessness, but the government must also realize its responsibility and strictly implement the SOPs. It is a question of collective responsibility, and often the negligence of one individual causes trouble for many. In view of this situation, it is the responsibility of the government to make arrangements to ensure that the people take precautionary measures and any violation not to be overlooked. If the public wants to maintain their daily routines and economic activities, they will have to ensure compliance with the precautionary measures against the coronavirus in winter, then a new wave of corona can be avoided.