Why is covid spreading in India; a note of truth

Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director AIIMS, Delhi

Keeping in view the massive surge in number of coronavirus cases in India suggesting a very worrisome second wave of the virus has hit the country in the past few days, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria in his recent interview has highlighted two key reasons for this rapid surge in Covid-19 cases in India. We at The TNB decode what we feel he meant.

He says, “the cause of surge in Covid spread is ‘multifactorial’.” "The two main causes are-when in January / February vaccination started and cases started coming down people stopped following COVID appropriate behaviour and at this time the virus mutated and it spread more rapidly."

Not one to call out the government in power, (also since he is a part of the government) he still went on state the major reason of COVID spread in the country. "This is a time when a lot of religious activities happen in our country and polls are also underway.”

The scene at Kumbh - the death-knell due to those who wouldn't keep logic over faith too often --- are the ones who vote for religious sites than hospital and progress making leaders

Many experts have pointed out the utterly disgusting behaviour of the BJP-led government in power whenever a majority appeasement opportunity comes their way. Maha Kumbh at Uttrakhand is seeing a tectonic surge of religiously-inclined Hindu majority congregating with around 40 lakh people travelling for the ceremonial dip in the Ganges. And BJP since they are inclined to majority appeasement – did not take heed of the experts in curtailing or calling it off. This could have been well-avoided. In a well-guarded statement this might be what Dr Guleria is hinting at.

Or is it the polls in the 5 states in the country? Experts point out that in the hunger of BJP to capture power in as many states as they can, their leaders have time and again shown utmost disregard for social distancing or of use of masks while in public. Humungous public gatherings in the name of calling for votes seems to be the major reason why Covid is seen spreading so fast and furiously in India.

“We must understand lives are also important. We can do this in a restricted manner so that religious sentiment is not hurt and COVID appropriate behaviour can be followed," Dr Guleria emphasised, though not making the government of day stand in the docks.

You wouldn't find anyone observing social distancing in Shah's public speech in Kolkata, te polity still have to campaign. Its vote and chair over the health after all

He went on to point out the worrying pressure on the healthcare system and availability of beds adding, "We are seeing a huge strain in the healthcare system. We have to keep increasing our hospital beds, resources for the increasing number of cases."

"We have now a larger spike in Delhi as compared to 6-7 months ago. In terms of health infrastructure and containment, what we were doing in the past we need to do that again," the top doctor added.

When enquired on vaccination, Dr Guleria informed, "We have to remember that no vaccine is 100% efficient. You may get the infection but the antibodies in our body will not allow the virus to multiply and you'll not have the ‘severe’ disease."

We feel our health experts were heeded to and the government could start by calling off majority-religion appeasement congregations and also desist from poll related public rallies. It has been seen that it is the common man or woman who is usually at the receiving end of the Corona-related ailments and they need to be shielded.