A shocking 71 Covid deaths in 24 hours comes as a severe blow to the State which is currently pushed to a state of helplessness. The positive cases have jumped to 3496, with the positivity rate touching the 51.64 per cent mark. The question is whether State healthcare is in a position to bring the situation under control, or will it spiral out of hand? The daily spurt in cases puts the State in a precarious situation because hospital spaces are filled to the brim, and home isolation is currently without any controls.
The stark reality is that despite desperate attempts to salvage the situation, Covid is striking with lethal ferocity crushing systems and pushing healthcare on the back foot. Even as bed space and oxygen supplies are being ramped up, the enormous pressure on the system is visible given the scale of infection. A cursory look at statistics reveals that a vast section of people with co-morbid conditions is becoming an easy target of the virus.
The so-called double mutant virus which is currently fueling the second wave is known to be devastating and virulent and given its insidious nature is known to be thwarting all containment efforts. Given the huge surge of infections, the State government has to focus on breaking the chain, we need to revisit every vulnerable area and improvise of the shortcomings during the first wave.
On Wednesday the State government issued a circular asking panchayat and municipal bodies to monitor Covid patients under home isolation. This comes after more than a week when the administration, sensing pressure on hospital and Covid care centres, allowed home isolation. Involving local bodies in monitoring and enforcing protocol has failed in the past because of inherent problems. The chief minister should have held a virtual interaction with panchayats and worked out practical solutions before proceeding with this move.
The flurry of activity to boost facilities is visible. Bed spaces are being enhanced, additional oxygen is being sourced, and even medical interns are being approached. However, there are no efforts on containment, other than asking people to show discipline and follow protocol. Borders continue to be free of restrictions, and inter-state visitors can come free-wheeling in Goa for a holiday. Several hotels used the 3-day weekend lockdown to sell short holiday packages on social media.
Goa has moved far away from contact tracing given the scale at which the virus has spread, and which is why lockdowns adopted by villages make sense. Containment is failing, and stringent lockdown is the only way forward. The vaccines for the 18+ age group haven’t arrived yet and there are possibilities that the drive for the above 45 age group could slow down due to availability. The State cannot expect instant results out the inoculation. The government has to re-assess the situation and take a serious view of the pain that is being inflicted on the people of Goa.
