Covid surge needs vigilance, not panic

THE sudden 1,200 per cent surge in Covid-19 cases in India over the past week — rising from just 257 to over 3,395 active cases — and the death of a few patients in this period call for more than a passing glance. While the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and World Health Organisation (WHO) stress that the current wave, driven by Omicron sub-variants LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1, remains mostly mild, the spike across Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi cannot be ignored. Despite reassurances, experience has taught us the price of underestimating early indicators. Mild symptoms can mutate. Immunity may wane. And healthcare, especially in rural pockets, remains vulnerable. While there is no need to panic, the complacency that has crept into the public psyche with masks and testing nearly forgotten, is risky.