Link to Article: https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/indias-rising-infections-spark-concerns-second-pandemic-wave
In New Delhi the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for “quick and decisive steps” to halt the quicly emerging second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. India has counted the most cases after the United States and Brazil, yet consistent weeks of decline had raised hope for the nation that Covid-19 was on the outs. However, on Tuesday the nation witnesses its highest single-day numbers in the last three months-29,000 new infections. Health authorities within the country have stated that unlike Western countries, the surge is not driven by new mutations, but rather ignorance and poor adherence to simple protocols such as wearing masks in a country that has lifted restrictions from temples, restaurants, markets and cinema halls.
However, most of the new cases are confined within the western state of Maharashtra-the epicenter of new infections. It is one of the country’s most urbanized and economically developed states in India. Authorites in Maharashtra began reimposing curbs this week. Another one of the state’s big cities, Nagpur, has been on lock down for a week and have ordered cinemas, hotels and restaurants to hold its guests at half capacity.
Despite India being the largest vaccine producer, it could still take months for India to cover its populous cities. So far the nation has vaccinated 35 million people.
As cases can be seen going down throughout nations across the globe, India has proven that confidence can quickly transform into overconfidence, as a new second wave is approaching. Nations must look at India’s response and learn from it, as raising protocal and restrictions/guidelines too soon, can very much send the globe into a Covid part two. As people become more anxious to get back to normal and throw out their masks, they must be cognizant that even though case numbers are falling, they very much could rise again. Carelessness that can be easily prevented is something that nations must be adherent to if it wants Covid to disappear. With a highly populated nation such as India, vaccination distribution will be one most challanging, along with China and the U.S.