Hi there,
It is okay to have tourists in a large numbers, but can say that now when the pandemic is on the rise in India what they call as the second wave?
What really happened was that the winter of 2020 closed with very hopeful note of recovery at 98.7% and daily and weekly cases falling impressively. There was hope and joy in the air and India presented a very impressive Covid-19 Pandemic management achievement!
Taking the regional case of Ladakh it has at present some 1671 cases of which 1587 from Leh and 84 from Kargil approximately. About 16 to 18 flights arrive in Leh daily bringing in about 1600 to 2000 people daily. There is arrangement for reporting of test at the airport RT PCR is mandatory failing which the visitor or local undergo one to two weeks of quarantine.
Both the National Highways are not open yet so the traffic there is almost zero arrivals by road. The roads were supposed to be open in early April but due to intermittent snowfall these got closed which is normal at this time of the year.
However, the central government is very much in favour of continuing with opening of the economy at all levels. Even the schools from middle level onwards have opened all over the country. Colleges and universities too would open soon but at the moment these have been closed due to sudden increase in coved cases the second wave pressure.
The vaccination drive for the age group between 45 to 59 years is going on all over the country let alone UT Ladakh. Some say that one reason for the sprite of covid-19 pandemic cases were the various election of the States of Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and UT of Pondicherry followed festivals of Holi especially in Mathura where millions gathered without mask and of recent the ‘Kumbh Mela’ where 2.7 millions took bath in the holy Ganges again without mask?
I mean it is alright to take part in the religious festivities but can we say that did the management followed the standard operating procedures (sops) at such mega events ultimately it is the individual and the family that face the scary consequences. Such questions also came from the W.H.O and other governmental bodies of the U.S.A and U.K etc.
So in some sense it can now been seen that people in India became over confidant and they became complacent not to take Covid-19 guidelines seriously during the first quarter of year 2021, hence the result in surge of Covid-19 cases at such an alarming rate?
Now, again the central government has woken up to the realities on the ground and they are doing all that can be done to reverse the trend which is very timely and appropriate. The three basic covid-19 individual guidelines of :
- Wearing a mask.
- Keeping social distance.
- Washing of hands.
Are followed like new normal without which one can be ostracized from community and groups. This message went very well in the year 2020. This should be taken very seriously now also as it has proven to work very well. Besides now people must take the covid-19 vaccination which is available that too free.
One thing which was observed this year while flying to Leh from Delhi was that everyone seem more confidant right from the flight attendants to passenger to pilot of the plane as all had learnt how to observe covid-19 manners and duties.
The show or the life must continue and we hope for a covid-19 conquered era in the coming times. But for the time being all must respect the seriousness of the times as we are at a very critical juncture? There is surge but we have all the means to defeat the virus that has created havoc in our and our neighbour’s lives.
It has to be taken seriously and cautiously. The moment we become complacent rest assure it will hit us back very vehemently, so brothers and sisters follow the three simple covid-19 guidelines naturally all will be alright! Bye for now.