The Election Commission of India's revised guidelines with relaxations to the political class in poll-bound states could turn the tide once again especially in States like Goa that have shown a steady decrease in infection rate. Allowing up to 1000 people in open spaces, 500 persons at indoor meetings, and increasing the list of people allowed for door-to-door meetings from 10 to 20 would bring welcome relief to politicos in the crucial fortnight before V-Day. This decision, however, throws a huge question mark over the safety and security of those still vulnerable to the virus.
Goa has seen a steady decline in Covid cases over the past two weeks, with the positivity rate plummeting to around 28 per cent from a high of 45.79 per cent. If we may recall, the North Goa district registered 45.09 per cent and was the 10th highest district in the country in terms of infections recorded between January 13 and 19. During the same period, South Goa saw an infection rate of 35.95 per cent. This was the after-effect of a packed tourism season where Goa dropped its guard and partied in an uncontrolled frenzy.
While the infection rate declined, thanks to the lower virulence of Omicron, Goa's mortality rate remained high with around 5-10 people dying daily. The third wave of Covid claimed a total of 171 lives in January 2022. The health bulletin on January 28 showed 20 Covid deaths, with 50 people dying in four days. There has been no respite on the death toll which is steadily clawing its way to 3,700.
Goa’s infection rate may be low, but the high death rate remains a worry. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was quick to explain that most of those dying are not vaccinated. This is not comforting either. It only means that there is an inherent threat to people because the vaccination coverage of 100 per cent is still not fulfilled. Or probably, the intense electoral campaigns have overshadowed our vaccination urgency.
Goa cannot derive solace from the fact that those vaccinated are secure, and those who are dying were the ones not vaccinated. The government holds an equal responsibility to ensure that there is 100 per cent coverage, taking the vaccine to the length and breadth of the State, just like the political campaigns. It is well-established that Goa has a high rate of co-morbid patients. The second wave established the fact that over 50 per cent of the deaths were those suffering from diabetes, respiratory ailments, hypertension and other lifestyle diseases. So, for Goa, reduction in the infection rate is not a factor to feel at ease. The fatality rate continues to be alarming, and that is where our fear is.
The decision of the Election Commission to open up the political arena further could open up fresh trouble for Goa because, for all the seriousness shown by the poll body, it has failed to reign in discipline right through the campaign. Going by the penchant with which politicos have gone violating SOPs so far, and with time running out, the new guidelines of the ECI will only open up fresh problems for Goans.
