Negligence of people is the biggest risk of all

The Darwinian theory which we all are so familiar with from our school days highlights one important point "the concept of natural selection" which states species with the better genetic makeup are the fittest for survival. Why do we need to remember this now? It still holds good to explain the pandemic we are going through now.

Age and co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension and immune compromised states have been traditional risk factors for most infectious diseases and the Covid-19 infection is no exception. But one important risk factor which we are not discussing about is "negligence of people".

One fine morning I get up and see the newspaper and find a photo of hundreds of people buying fish on occasion of Mrigasari Karthi. Seems nothing wrong in a state of normalcy, but definitely seems bizarre during this pandemic time with hundreds following no social distancing at all.

Then the next day I see another video of hundreds barging and falling on one another to buy the Tirupati laddu in Hyderabad. I know it's definitely tasty and highly regarded, but now is it required? I seriously wonder where this people get the courage to involve in such acts. Are these people already immune to the virus?

We so easily blame the government for its failures, but have we questioned ourselves how responsible are we behaving? If I don't eat fish this festival or don't eat a laddu, is it a sin mightier than getting infected with the virus and spreading it to ur loved ones?

When repeated appeals are being made in every print and electronic media about the importance of staying at home and wearing masks, there is still a section of people who seem unaffected by this. What's worst is these people can end up infecting and killing the innocent ones.

Indian data reveal around 72 per cent of deaths in people with co-morbidities. Let me make it clear to people who maybe expect a co-morbidity to be something deadly, please know it also includes all the well controlled diabetics, hypertensives and obese persons as well, who seem just as healthy and fit as everyone.

Not to forget as a dictum "Diabetes and Hypertension detected in India is just the tip of the iceberg and they are many who don't even know they are suffering from it. So I request the people in their 30's or 40's who think we are relatively safe, yes you are, but yet when u have no drug, no vaccine there is nothing to feel safe about. Though equating getting infected to death is not true, we still do not clearly know the permanent damage it may cause to your lungs. With so much toil the lungs already take because of pollution, do you need another insult?

Re-setting your priorities should be one of the prime decision people need to take this year. Traditions and festivities however compulsive can definitely wait. Celebrations, kitty parties and get-togethers can wait. Food which you eat as a luxury and not for survival can wait. In short, do only things and go outside only for your survival and not for any luxuries. If this year passes by and if we do have answers in the form of a drug or vaccine, there is definitely next year to catch up with the lost time.

And the last thing to add would definitely be the way I see people wearing their masks. Masks are designed to cover both your nose and mouth. Unfortunately I see many wearing it below the nose or under the chin or not wearing at all. When personal protection is the only defence we have then why this negligence? I hear many people complaining about masks being so suffocating, if u have such a problem please wear a PPE suit for 6-8 hours, and then you will realise what suffocation means

Some battles are won by strength and some by intelligence, but most are won when you have both. Please understand the country your living in has neglected the subject of health from decades, spent 1-2 per cent GDP each year on it. So if we continue to be negligent and if cases keep increasing in the trend your currently seeing, it won't be long before you see the health system collapse right in front of your eyes and you may not a find a bed for yourself. Aren't we already seeing what's happening in Mumbai and Delhi?

With monsoon arriving, things can only get worser. When the virus survived the hot summers and spread to such an extent, the weather now will be a cakewalk for the virus to spread.As everything is still not out of hands and we still have a long journey to make in this battle against the virus, I request every citizen to be more responsible.

A single person's irresponsibility can be a curse to others as well, so please educate yourselves and the people around you. No one is invincible, we see stories of infants dying and also stories of 80 and 90 year olds beating the virus. It all comes down to luck and many other factors, the onus rests on no one except you to protect yourself and your loved ones. As the Darwinian theory I was talking about " Survival of the fittest-The responsible, educated social being will go ahead unscathed".

Dr Rithvik Golla,

Secunderabad

Stop blaming,start working with each other

From the day, lockdown was clamped, experts, doctors and government have only been chanting the slogan "Stay home, stay safe" besides doling out "Do's and Don'ts" for citizens to scrupulously follow. Despite this, many were afflicted with the fast spreading virus. The fact that bigger cities were the most affected with increase in cases daily, fortunately rural areas were less affected.

As each state was following its own norm in conducting tests during the lockdown period, the states were divided on continuing complete lockdown. Notwithstanding the fact that as the economy of the nation tanked badly, the nation was confronted with twin problems of opening up market for revival of economy on one hand and to hand out cash to the poor and the needy for their survival even as combating the pandemic and increasing the testing facilities took a backseat.

Consequently the positivity rate rose up alarmingly. Ummindful of the consequences, government relaxed lockdown by opening of offices, market places, bus services and resumption of trains. This led to positive cases registering a phenomenal rise in cities causing immense worry not only to citizens with medical history but also working class who have started going to their work places daily.

Despite, the health care and welfare of people is paramount, no effort to intensify tests were taken by state governments even as social distancing and hygiene went up for a toss as deaths also started climbing steadily due to lack of timely medical care to the affected.

Now that India is just behind US, Brazil, Russia in the number of positive cases with a forewarning from WHO that cases would register a phenomenal rise in the near foreseeable future, what is required is to jointly surmount the shortcomings by coming out with ways and means to deal with the coronavirus pandemic effectively instead of indulging in blame-game and pointing fingers at others even as the real issues are either thrown at the backburner or kept at a distance unresolved to the detriment of the people.

K R Srinivasan, Secunderabad