Nobody likes to live with Covid-19, Yet…
Living with Covid-19 is no longer an option, it’s the New Normal
R.K.Mahapatra
What Should be our Goal ? Here is a tale of 3 countries..
Australia, NZ and China have adopted a Zero covid approach. Both AU and NZ are undergoing one of their strictest lockdown program at present. China on the other hand has been able to maintain zero case for a pretty long time when its defence was breached by the virulent Delta variant. One month back, China had a Delta flare up from a flight passenger. It is said that each of the 2 million population of the city where the breakout commenced were tested at least 12 times. With intense Testing, Tracing and Isolation, China could smother the Delta surge and regained its zero covid status within one month and still maintains it. but at what cost ?
Australia being an Island nation has reported only 1000 death till now. But last week the PM of Australia announced that they are moving away from a zero covid strategy which they have been carrying out successfully for the last 20 month. It has become unsustainable now. NZ has been successful till now. Time will tell whether they will be going the China way or follow their neighbour’s path.
There are two worlds now: the Pre-Delta and there’s is the Delta world.
All the above 3 nations have experienced the Delta only recently. Australia and NZ being two island nations could strictly control the entry of delta on to their shores from outside till Australia fell. Now NZ has cut off all travel from Australia. But how long can you remain inside a bubble unless of course you are the mighty China?
On the other side of the spectrum are Singapore and Denmark.
Denmark has fully vaccinated 80% of its 12+ population. Its heath minister has downgraded the status of Covid-19 to the level of any other infectious disease like Influenza. Covid-19 has been removed from the list of Socially Critical Disease in Denmark.
Singapore has achieved near 80% vaccination status. The Singapore PM has directed its nation to move towards normalcy in a cautious and progressive manner. accordingly the daily test positive numbers do not find a place in public media.
Canada and UK have achieved substantial vaccine penetration. There is drastic reduction in serious cases and hospitalisation of Covid patients among the fully vaccinated population. In US the number of admission is mainly among the unvaccinated. President Biden has called this as the Pandemic of the Unvaccinated.
Israel has fully vaccinated 78% of its population including its 12+ age group. As Israel started early and has already completed two doses of all its citizen 6 months ago, the recent breakthrough cases bring out only one conclusion. Immunity induced by vaccines will not last for ever. And so Israel has started its 3rd booster from 30 July. A booster induces rapid production of antibody though its protection is blunted by the delta.
The whole world is waiting for Israel’s experience after the booster dose. Their internal assessment has induced USA to announce its Booster program from 20th September. But Israel has moved forward and considering a 4th shot. This will not be a booster as it will be a different vaccine. This vaccine will be targeting the new variant in circulation. That will be the new normal. An annual vaccine shot targeting the variant in circulation. how many countries can afford such a program ? here is the link from the Reuter
I am very optimistic about the effect of Delta in India. Remember that delta was detected first in India around December 2020. So unlike Australia, China and NZ we have a 9 months experience of Delta. We know that it is more infectious than its earlier cousins like Alpha and Beta. It is fitter than others in fighting the vaccines. By the law of “Survival of the Fittest“, it has replaced both the parent virus and all its variants the world over. In fact our 2nd wave is the Delta surge and now it is coming down.
We may have seen the rear of the Delta wave here in India. Unless one more virulent variant replaces Delta, we should consider ourselves safe.
( In 24 hours Till 9am, 7th September)
- Number of new cases detected in last 24 hours in Odisha- 762
- Number of Paediatric cases in them- 102 (13%)
- Number of new cases detected in Bhubaneswar – 226
| (Detected In the last 24 hours) | New cases | Total /New death |
| India | 19,880 | 450,408 / 248 |
| Kerala | 10,944 | 26,072 / 120 |
| Maharashtra | 2,620 | 1,39,470 / 59 |
| Tamilnadu | 1,359 | 35,754 / 20 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 693 | 14242 / 6 |
| Odisha | 526 | 8242 / 4 |
We keep hearing that the coronavirus vaccine is not 100% protective. It is also not 100% effective in stopping transmission from one person to other.
Well, the good news is that it does help protect others because it lowers the risk of transmitting the virus. It also prevents serious illness and death among the vaccinated. Between a strict lock down ( Of the level of China) and vaccination the later is better effective and more acceptable.
We must realise the fact that: “People who are not vaccinated and are not observing mask and distancing protocol are putting other people at Life risk.”
Opinions are personal: ରମାକାନ୍ତ ମହାପାତ୍ର
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