Virus ravaging Punjab

Along with the Punjab Government scaling up efforts to combat the health crisis, there is an urgent need for a universal adoption of abundant caution and vaccine (eligible ones). These measures are the best means to check the onslaught of the coronavirus that is spreading in Punjab at a super speed. Punjab’s caseload is expected to surpass the record one-lakh mark by the end of April. Treatment of the rising numbers is hampered by the rapidly depleting medical supplies. The state’s fatality rate continuing to be more than double the national rate remains an additional cause of concern.

Cries for resources essential for critically affected patients — hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, ventilators, medicines, medical staff and nurses, as also sanitation workers and cremation spaces — are being heard from almost every nook and corner of the state. Even the far-flung and remote rural belts equipped with little healthcare facilities, unlike the first wave last year, have not been spared by the pathogen in this second wave. The clamour for urgent aid has, unfortunately, led to some unscrupulous elements making a quick buck with hoarding and black-marketing of drugs such as remdesivir. Hospital beds and oxygen too are disturbingly commanding a premium. Incidentally, patients must take remdesivir judiciously and only under the physician’s advice, for its therapeutic window is very narrow.

The grave scenario also calls for sterner steps to control gatherings and crowds. In this context, the attempt to strengthen the farmers’ protest seeking the repeal of the farm laws enacted in September assumes importance. Even as the authorities are facilitating inoculation centres at Singhu and Tikri, the main sites of the dharna, the participating peasants need to shed defiance and take the immunising jabs. Their leaders must insist on allowing only those tested negative for coronavirus every few days to the sit-ins. Not only will this responsible behaviour prevent a flare-up among their community, it will also give a fillip to the public support that is of import to their cause. Covid protocol compliance will additionally help them on the other front that they are battling these days: the allegation that they are blocking oxygen supply vehicles on the Delhi border.

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