India has already started imposing restrictions amid rise in omicron strain cases while Covid is still in the air. Sudden rise in Covid cases per day is a worrying issue for administration and people. While states have again included partial lockdown during specific hours along with shut down of schools, colleges and theatres, National capital of the country, New Delhi is on yellow alert. Maximum omicron cases have been recorded in the city and is under high packed restrictions. According to Dr. Akanksha Ranawat, ‘We have yet again started Covid centres in AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) hospital keeping in mind the number of cases we are registering per day. Currently, we are monitoring the situation and all the new Covid patients are under our watch. So, there is no need to worry.’
Meanwhile everybody is being suggested by the administration to take precautions, the political rallies in different corners of the country are still happening. Leaders are conducting mass rallies for the upcoming elections and are completely acting irresponsible. Be it the rallies of Congress political party, BJP or the Samajwadi political party, people are seen wearing no masks and following no social distancing proving Covid restrictions mere just another set of rules.
Question is why rallies are still happening when country is about to witness another wave? Dr. Jatin told Eat News, ‘Currently, every gathering has to be stopped. Crowd is the last thing we need to see ourselves getting in, in present. We are watching these mass rallies where people are not wearing masks, are standing in touch with each other, which is horrible to look at.’ He further added, ‘Administration definitely has to take an action on such ongoing rallies, which will affect the number of cases.’ Uttar Pradesh is going to have election in few weeks and political parties are not leaving any mark to gather support through their campaigns. Visuals coming from women’s marathon, roadshow, rallies are drawing attention and concern of experts in the middle of spread of infectious Omicron strain of Covid. Uttar Pradesh is one of the worst hit states during the second wave of Covid.
Dr. Jatin cleared the speculations about Omicron strain and said, ‘Lot of people are saying that Omicron is not that dangerous and people infected through it are getting better without the need of hospitalization. Well, do not take the situation lightly, and for your own good follow the restrictions, because a single second is required for a situation to get worse, and we don’t want it. Yes, the symptoms are almost same but again, people who are already suffering form other disease need to be taken care of.’ India has recorded its first death due to Omicron strain of a 52-year-old man in Maharashtra. As per the information, the man died due to heart attack was infected by Omicron variant. The reason behind the death is confirmed as to his underlying health conditions by administration.
Out of 20.42 crores of population in Uttar Pradesh, only 30% have been vaccinated yet. Allahabad high court has interrupted and had requested Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Election Commission to postpone the elections for 1-2 months, recalling the sufferings. Judge said, ‘Lot of people got infected in Bengal assembly elections and Gram panchayat elections, which raised the number of deaths. If rallies are not going to stop, the results are going to be worse than the second wave’. He also added, that Political parties are ensuring to follow the Covid protocols during rallies and meetings, is not possible.
Gopal Nath lives in Uttar Pradesh and has gone in one of the rallies. Describing the arrangements, he said, ‘No arrangements were there. People who want to come and join are welcome. Nobody is going to be stopped. Regarding the Covid protocol, I was wearing mask but not everybody there were. some people wore it on mouth some on head, and lot of masks were even on the ground. But when a political leader comes and speak, this is how situation turns into. People doesn’t care about surroundings and want to be as close as they can get to them.’ The crowd was loud and hasty, according to Gopal Nath. He said that more than 200 people were there, and no social distancing was followed.
Gopal Nath is a supporter of Samajwadi party and does not want elections to get cancelled. He said, ‘Cancelling elections would be a bad decision because it is the only way people can make their choice to come in power. But looking at the cases, administration should cancel the rallies, campaigns and meetings. Because if you think that people will follow rules during these rallies, that won’t be happening. Cancelling is the only option left. We have seen people carrying dead bodies during second wave, and we surely don’t want the history to repeat.’
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