Another lockdown could send everything downhill

Migrants left in lakhs for their hometown in the lockdown last year. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Are we headed for yet another lockdown? The question is very easy to ask, but it is difficult to evoke a straight answer. If the active cases of COVID-19 continue to grow at the current speed, the state government has threatened to impose restrictions like last year. But having complete lockdown yet again would mean a disaster for us, the common people and ultimately, the government. In fact, strict measures have been taken in certain parts of Maharashtra where not all are happy with the action.

Political parties, including some in the government, have opposed the lockdown-like restrictions. The measures have been lifted in some places while others will face them from this week despite local opposition. In Mumbai, the warning bells have been sounded by none other than Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who clearly doesn't want to get harsher because the economy has just started recovering.

Having commercial activities stalled again will take us back to distress. The current situation is that the state's golden quadrangular - the most commercialised and industrialised region spanning the areas of Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad - has again shown a worrisome spike in the active cases. In the rest of the state where some economic activities, though not at par with the golden quadrangular, take place, the infection is rising.

Sharing the blame
As far as active cases are concerned, Maharashtra tops the country's chart. About a dozen of the state's districts swell the numbers daily. The reasons for the new spike could be attributed together to the people and the state machinery because both relaxed when the active cases dipped. The machinery, especially the frontline units, was tired. The administrators, who plan and execute at the local level, had to manage non-COVID things like gram panchayat elections once the pandemic looked like it was under control. Much liberated and carefree, the people took undue advantage of the restricted unlock measures. Social and political gatherings, weddings, rallies and protests happened, with the COVID-19 protocol shown the dustbin. In Mumbai, physical distancing went for a toss, and the city showed an unusual trend of the active cases rising in the high-rises where middle and upper middle class had been protecting themselves in the first wave. The city's slums which bore the brunt last year haven't shown intense COVID activity in the past fortnight which showed a sharp spike elsewhere, such as in Mumbai and in the rest of Maharashtra's urban pockets. What does it indicate? Is our educated lot faltering and defeating the very purpose of pandemic mitigation?

Forging test reports
There could be no serious crime like forging the COVID-19 test reports in the time of the highly infectious virus. While some people have been caught for procuring a negative report to facilitate air travel, some have been forging the old reports using a software to correct the date suited for travel.

The erring laboratories have been caught for aiding people who pay for the false reports. Vigilance needs to be intensified to catch the individuals who are risking their and the lives of many others. The time isn't far when the inter-state and inter-district borders are activated again for the passengers' scrutiny. Any further laxity may cost the state much more. If procuring a negative report didn't suffice, some rackets have been alleged in making money by giving a positive report.

Such instances were reported in Amravati where a nexus between the tested individuals, insurance agents and the hospitals was reported to have shared the insurance booty between them.

Let vaccination be boon
There is a mindset that there is nothing to worry about the novel Coronavirus because the vaccination has started. It's a bane that accompanies a boon. Medical experts have advised against breaking preventive protocol even after getting the jab.

It is good to see that the vaccination drive has picked up, with people shedding doubts over the brands available. Participation of private hospitals does not financially burden the people who can afford to pay a reasonable amount for it.

However, in the current phase in which senior citizens along with people above 45 years with comorbidities are also vaccinated, experts need to clarify whether flouting the comorbidity norm could have any side effects on the person who produces a medical certificate to prove s/he suffers from an ailment listed in the guidelines.

Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com