The second wave of coronavirus infection has started in the country and the health department, including doctors and nurses, have taken necessary measures up to the local level to deal with it.
There is no alternative to complying with health regulations at this moment to stop the second wave of coronavirus in the country.
After the first coronavirus infection was detected in the country on March 8, it gradually increased. At one time infection and death rates became alarming and people were scared and careful as well. But now it seems that people do not care about the pandemic that much. The number of corona cases in the country has been declining since August and evidence of which is found in the markets, buses, trains, launches, offices and courts.
Its needs no emphasising that the spread of coronavirus
cannot be controlled as long as we are not able to
persuade people to follow the government directives
It is discouraging to see that many people moving on the road without following the rules of hygiene. The awareness has diminished. The practice of using mask, sanitizing hands and maintaining social distance is on the wane.
In many places outside Dhaka, people hardly follow government directives to protect themselves from coronavirus. Lately, even in big cities of the country including Dhaka, the way hygiene is required to prevent corona infection is not being followed. Instead, people are moving on the streets, in the kitchen market, in shopping malls, on buses and launches, in offices and courts without maintaining social distancing rules. It can be said that there is a tendency among people to disobey restrictions now.
The second wave of coronavirus has started in many European countries. Many countries have already announced a second or third lockdown. Bangladesh is also worried about the second wave of corona during winter. The health sector has the capacity to deal with the second wave, but if people do not follow the rules of hygiene, then it may cause fear again in the future.
Especially wearing a face mask is very important for everyone. In this regard, already necessary steps have been taken to make it mandatory to wear a face mask until the vaccine is introduced in the country.
Its needs no emphasizing that the spread of coronavirus cannot be controlled as long as we are not able to persuade people to follow the government directives. Experts, however, think infections can grow if people ignore health guidelines. Because in winter, many traditional gatherings and social events take place which we need to control otherwise the infections would rise further. We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread and protect our families.
Data shows that most peoples in our country are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That is good, but we must keep it up. Following the government directives, we can save lives. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that people must at least wear a mask outside and maintain social distancing.
All businesses and operations from requiring workers to leave their homes, unless those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations. Businesses and operations are to designate the workers who meet those criteria, and must adopt social distancing practices and other measures to protect workers and patrons in the performance of that in-person work. Police has intensified vigilance to ensure people maintaining social distance.
In the country today is a reminder of the second wave of corona , if maximum action is not taken now to deal with the second wave of coronavirus, the consequences will be dire. This certainly equires social awareness. The challenge for government now is to ensure the peak is not so furious that it overburdens our healthcare system. We are not only putting our own life in danger but also threatening the life of others by not following government directives to quell the spread if coronavirus.
The question is why people do not obey the instructions of the government leaves us in deep thought. When like all other disasters in the past, we want to win in the Corona War. We must obey government directives. We need to refrain from going out without much need.
Coronavirus is still here and we do not have a vaccine for it yet. That means that mask-wearing and social distancing will remain indispensable, and we will need to keep using the same tools scientists have been clamouring for all along: surveillance testing, contact tracing and quarantine.
Md. Shaikhul Islam Raton is Staff Correspondent, Bangladesh Post