INDIANS WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH COVID VARIANTS DURING 2022 AND BEYOND BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS MORE PREPARED THAN BEFORE THOUGH CAUTION IS NEEDED
It has been two years since Covid-19 emerged in China and spread worldwide. Since then, the
globe has faced upheaval. As we enter 2022, what does the crystal ball say about the covid? Will
the New Year see the end of the pandemic, or will it continue through the year? The short answer
is the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet and is likely to continue through 2022. With
unpredictable outbreaks still occurring worldwide, it is difficult to predict the end of the
pandemic.
If we assume that all pandemics must end, every pandemic in history has completed at some
point, even without the advances in sciences we have today. The bubonic plague was never
entirely eradicated and has killed millions of people over the past 2,000 years. The 1918 Spanish
flu lasted for around two years and infected 500 million people.
Despite early hopes, only about 40 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, and millions are
skipping their second doses. The World Health Organization has evaluated more than 270 million people had been affected by Covid, while an estimated 57% of the global population has
received at least one dose of vaccine.
A few days ago, some experts predicted that many countries might become covid- free after
suffering Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and other variants in the past two years. The rapid spread
of the highly-mutated Omicron variant, identified in late November, undermines that hope. Some
experts predict that there will be new mutations, new variants, as covid will be around for years
like the flu and the common cold; there is no other option than to learn to live with it.
While coping with the covid forever might be daunting, experts predict it might become endemic
sooner.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates predicted last week that despite Omicron, the 'acute phase' of the
Covid-19 pandemic will end in 2022. "I am hopeful that the end is finally in sight. It might be
foolish to make another prediction, but I think the acute phase of the pandemic will come to a
close sometime in 2022."
Many countries have resorted to wearing masks, maintaining social distances, and banning large
gatherings. Omicron is spreading fast.
An independent population health research centre at the University of Washington Medicine in
the United States has predicted India's (COVID-19) cumulative death toll will be nearly 2.9
million by March 1, 2022.
However, one of India's top scientists, Vidyasagar, the head of the National COVid 19
Supermodel Committee, has predicted "Third wave is likely to arrive early next year in India. It
should be milder than the second wave due to a large-scale immunity present in the country
now.".
Though caught unaware during the second wave early this year, India has administered about 1.2
billion vaccines, one of the highest in the world due to the population size of India. The
government will likely complete its first round of vaccinations in 2022. India has also increased
the production of vaccines and might even export to needy countries. We have learned some lessons from the second wave. When the Indian government thought we
had almost defeated covid and the then health minister Harsh Vardhan even said that covid was
dead, the second wave hit the country with such force. This second wave was mainly due to the
complacency that things were becoming okay. People threw caution and went about without a
mask or keeping social distance. People crowded in public places like temples and parks. The
poll rallies held in poll-bound states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry
caused enough covid spread. We can escape the third wave if the people and politicians stick to
the covid regulations.
The Indian government is getting ready to meet any eventuality and has stepped up the vaccine
supply. The health sector has been allocated more funds in 2021 and it is likely to continue in the
2022 budget. The upcoming Assembly election in U.P, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh,
Manipur, Goa, and Gujarat is crucial for the BJP and Congress. The political parties should make
sure that they address only virtual rallies and propagate their poll agenda through digital mode.
The future is unknowable. The good news is that India is better prepared to deal with Covid
today than two years ago because vaccine supplies have increased. The bottom line is that the
virus will continue to affect our lives and livelihoods unless the global community collectively
addresses inequitable access to vaccines. At the same time, governments must invest in
preparedness, prevention, and health care. The public also has its duty to cooperate with the
government and follow regulations so that the new variant does not spread fast.
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