Uttam Maharjan

At a time when normal life was limping back to normal, the cases of COVID-19 have surged all of a sudden in recent times. For some days in the past before the surge, the cases were limited to a hundred or less a day with fewer deaths. Now the daily cases hit 800 or 900 with increasing deaths.
When political turmoil was at its highest with the dissolution of the House of Representatives on December 20 last year, there were political gatherings or rallies participated in by thousands of people - party cadres and the general people alike. At the time, it was feared that COVID-19 cases would spike but nothing of that sort happened. The emergence of the UK variant of the coronavirus that has appeared in India has played havoc with Nepal. Some of those returning from India have tested positive with the UK variant. This is a matter of great concern for the country.

Precaution
What is worrisome is that schools, which have reopened after a hiatus of months, have become a hotspot. School students, including kids, have been detected with COVID-19. The government has urged schools operators to shut down schools, or to operate schools by strictly following health safety protocol, so as to stem the spread of the disease in schools. Health experts have warned that if necessary precautionary measures are not taken, the situation may turn explosive. Even Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi has said that the number of COVID-19 cases may reach as many as 600,000 by Asadh if precaution is not exercised.
In recent times, people have shown a negligent and nonchalant attitude towards COVID-19. Most of them have stopped wearing face masks. It is imperative to break the chain of transmission of the disease. For this, basic precautionary measures like wearing face masks, using sanitiser and frequently washing hands must be taken.
The vaccination drive against COVID-19 has started in Nepal since January 27. The campaign has held out hope that the contagion can be defeated in short order. The country has planned to inoculate 72 per cent of its population within one year. However, the vaccination drive may hit a snag. With the unexpected surge in COVID-19 cases in India, the Serum Institute of India has stopped exporting COVID-19 vaccines, known as the AstraZeneca vaccine. Rather, it is importing Sputnik V vaccines from Russia. This may not only hamper the vaccination drive in Nepal and other countries but also affect the COVAX initiative backed up by the World Health Organisation and the GAVI.
With the surge in COVID-19 cases in Nepal, there are apprehensions that the government may enforce lockdowns as last year. People have not forgotten how lockdowns, prohibitory orders and other restrictions affected their lives and the economy as a whole last year. The effects of these restrictive actions are still there. Some sectors like tourism and hotels have not fully come back to normal. However, the government has said that lockdowns will not be imposed in the country but other measures will be taken, with a caveat that lockdowns may be resorted to if the situation goes out of hand.
To prevent the transmission of COVID-19, first people should be alert. They should fully abide by the health safety protocol issued by the government in consultation with health experts. The government has disallowed a gathering of more than 25 people. Still, people have organised parties, picnics and other activities that attract crowds. The Bisket Jatra of Bhaktapur was recently celebrated. The Seto Machhindranath chariot-pulling festival is around the corner. Although the government has asked people to celebrate festivals by adhering to the health safety protocol, it is difficult, nay, impossible, to celebrate such festivals by maintaining social distancing. So people have to be extra careful while celebrating festivals.
On the other hand, political leaders and cadres should present themselves as role models in following the health safety protocol. They tend to organise big rallies and assemblies, if need be, by even bringing in people from outside the Valley. This has sent a negative message. People think that when political leaders and activists can take part in rallies and assemblies, it is not necessary for them to follow the protocol. Those who do not follow the protocol may turn out to be super-spreaders.
In order to control COVID-19, the government should take necessary measures to stop, or at least mitigate, the cross-border movement of people from India to Nepal. Nepal and India have an open border of around 1,850 kilometres and around six million Nepalis work in India. Likewise, a large number of Indians also work in Nepal. As it has been proved that the new variant of the coronavirus has been carried to the country by those returning from India, concrete steps should be taken in time to stop the transmission of the contagion. For this, health check posts should be set up at the border and quarantine arrangements should be made for those testing positive for the disease.

Health facilities
In view of COVID-19 surging in recent times, the government should keep health facilities like hospitals and isolation centres on standby. Such health facilities should be equipped with necessary logistics like oximeters and ventilators. Health workers should also be on standby. At the same time, it should be ensured that the vaccination drive will run like clockwork. The government has planned to administer the second dose to those who have taken the first dose from Baisakh 7. Those who have taken the first dose are apprehensive of whether they will get the second dose or not given the shortage of vaccines. The government should exercise political and diplomatic acumen to acquire vaccines from India, the World Health Organisation (under the COVAX initiative) or elsewhere so that the vaccination drive will not get a knock.

(Former banker, Maharjan has been regularly writing on contemporary issues for this daily since 2000. uttam.maharjan1964@gmail.com)