No room for complacency

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan's revelation that Indian population is still far from achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 sounds a warning that the slightest laxity on safety protocols will be catastrophic. The Union minister has cautioned that indications of the second sero-prevalence survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research are that the country is far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity. He has rightly stressed the need for everyone continuing "COVID appropriate behaviour" of wearing face mask, maintaining physical distance in the public. The ICMR conducted the second Sero-survey to determine how COVID-19 has spread in the community in the post-lockdown situation. The first sero-survey was conducted in May when the nationwide lockdown was in force.

The sero-survey is conducted to determine if a person has already been infected by the COVID-19. It is carried out by testing blood samples for presence of antibodies of the virus. Only those infected by the virus will have the antibodies. Achieving the herd immunity means that large section of people in the community are immune and protected from the virus infection and therefore the community has developed resistance to spread of the contagious disease. Herd community can be achieved through previous infections or vaccinations. The Union Minister has also emphasized the need for wearing masks even in places of worship. Assam should pay special attention on the adherence of the COVID-19 safety protocols in the places of worship. There has been a spurt in infection in some rural pockets during the month of September when special ritualistic prayers have been organized in the Namghars. Distribution of the offerings of eatables leaves scope for contacts.

Special awareness drive among the Namghar functionaries will go a long way in preventing community spread by reminding the disciples to strictly adhere to the safety protocols while visiting the Namghars to offer prayers. It is heartening to know that puja committees and the administration have decided to organize the ensuing Durga puja on a low key. The challenge for the committees will be to ensure that gathering is kept at the minimum and safety protocols are strictly enforced. Political activities are on the rise in the state as barely six months are left for the electoral process of 2021 Assembly polls to start. The Election Commission convening an all-party meeting well ahead to work out detailed protocols to be followed while organizing political rallies will be a timely step to prevent pandemic curve to rise further in the state. The commission's guidelines for Bihar Assembly polls can be the template for such an exercise. The intervening period should be utilized in educating the electorates, how voting is going to be different this time because of the prevailing pandemic situation.

The ruling coalition partners and the principal opposition parties in the state should take the lead in making their political gatherings safe for party workers, supporters, and electors to attend. Unfortunately, quite the opposite has been noticed in the rallies organized by the parties, both ruling and opposition, across the state. This has resulted in large number of political workers and supporter besides the leaders being infected and they, in turn, infecting their own family members. People need to be reminded the fact that the state crossed one lakh COVID-19 positive cases nearly five months after the first case was detected but over the past one month the state has added over 70,000 positive cases. A rapid spread of the infection due to negligence on the part of the people and political parties, public institutions will result in sharp increase in active cases. This will negate the efforts of providing critical support through additional Intensive Care Unit beds and oxygen supported beds for critical patients. The hospitals are already pushed to the brink and concerted efforts are needed to ensure that hospital capacity is not saturated and there is no shortage of ICU beds for critical patients. There is no alternative to aggressive awareness drive under the prevailing situation. However, innovation is needed in the awareness drive.

Use of social media platforms, community institutions issuing appeals have better appeals than routine practice of taking out health awareness processions on the streets displaying placards. Accredited Social Health Activists and Anganwadi workers have been playing key role in raising awareness on a range of public health issues including mother and child health issues. The state government providing them sufficient additional incentives will have better impact on taking the campaign closer to the general masses. The money spent on campaign programmes that have little impact other than sponsoring some publicity media companies will have better utilization if effective outcomes if it is spent to provide incentive to frontline health workers. However, they also needed to be provided adequate personal protective equipment so that they remain protected from infected people.