STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: With all concerned adopting a laidback attitude, the Covid positivity rate in the state has registered an upswing. If this situation goes on for long, the pandemic may raise its ugly head yet again.
When viewed from statistics of late, vaccination and testing drives have lost steam. As if to cap it all, the administration has relaxed the Covid-19 protocol during the festive season. There is none to check the violation of Covid-19 protocol that has gone for a toss.
Even GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital) Superintendent Dr Abhijit Sarma said, "The Covid-19 positivity rate has gone up marginally, not alarming although. It is the fallout of the relaxation for the Durga Puja as the Covid-19 protocol has gone for a toss.
"Apprehensive of such a consequence, we keep appealing to all not to relax and wear masks, besides adhering to the social distancing norm."
Official statistics reveal that 60,000-70,000 Covid-19 tests got conducted daily in September. The testing drive lost steam in October, testing 30,000-40,000 people daily.
The vaccination drive is no different. 15.96 lakh people got inoculated from September 10-20; 17.12 lakh from September 20-30; 17.72 lakh from September 30-October 9, and only 7.62 lakh from October 9-19. The Health Department says that people in the festive mood are reluctant to come forward for vaccination and Covid-19 testing.
The Covid-19 positivity rate went up during the Durga Puja when people were bothered the least for wearing masks and adhering to social distancing norms. There is none from the administration to check the violation of the Covid-19 protocol. City buses and other passenger-carrying vehicles are carrying passengers who do not wear masks. Even drivers and handymen do not wear masks. The curfew is from 10 pm, but the streets in Guwahati are teeming with honking cars till 11 pm. The worst is that the general public has a feeling that the Covid-19 is over. Those who have taken only one of the two vaccines doses feel that they are safe.
Around 1.97 crore people in the state took the first dose of vaccines, and only 67 lakh got inoculated with both doses. The risk factor is that over one crore people have not yet taken the second dose. From time to time the government carries out mega vaccination and testing drives and pushes the statistics up. Since the primary schools have resumed their classes, all in the state need to be responsible ones and remain alert for the safety of the minor ones.
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