As cases begin to fall, don’t let complacency sneak in

The state on Monday saw 37,236 cases. Compare this to Sunday’s 48,401 cases and you will see that the climbdown has been considerable.

Watch out for the big C, and this time it is not Coronavirus but complacency that we are referring to. A dip in case numbers is some reason for relief. The statistics have evinced curiosity too because we see that the decline is quite steep. The state on Monday saw 37,236 cases. Compare this to Sunday’s 48,401 cases and you will see that the climbdown has been considerable.

Mumbai has also seen numbers go down. Mumbai stood at 1,794 cases and we have gone below the 2,000 mark. There will be plenty of arguments about less testing on weekends, especially Sundays, and the Opposition will scream about incorrect figures.

We though need to cling on to that sliver of hope, and keep the faith that tests notwithstanding we have a responsibility to keep those numbers down.

For that, we need to shun complacency at once. It is that smug, snug attitude that did us in and is one of the big factors for the devastating second wave that we are trying to control. We have been blindsided not just by the virulence of the Coronavirus, but the scope and speed of the transmission. Now, we have to be on our toes with simply no sitting back till this pandemic is officially declared over.

This does not mean a continual state of unhealthy paranoia, but a state of wary optimism, a state of hope for the best but never let your guard down, because only then can the best ever happen. Do not be deluded into thinking or believing that once we pass so and so number we are out of the woods. We are not, and the lessons that we have learnt is never slack, whatever the numbers tell us. Let us take some solace if numbers continue to go down, but relaxation of personal Covid protocols should be unthinkable.

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