Coronavirus Part 44, Quick recovery, Age-old Steps to Cure Pandemic

                  To take a look at the covid-19 in the country, the cases are progressing along a linear line with very few deviations, since the past many weeks. The 7-day average of the cases is once again in the zone with 35 thousand which is 3 thousand less than earlier week. The active cases have also fallen from 4.1 lakh to 3.84 lakh and remained at this small range for long. The daily infections, weekly average, active cases etc. are oscillating up and down slightly within a narrow range which is negligible and in turn giving a linear shape to covid-19 progress in the country. This has been like this for the last 80 days and could have vastly improved over time if not for 1 or 2 states.

                   After linear progression for nearly the past 3 months, the shape which the pandemic will take in the country is hard to predict. One cannot tell if it is the period of lull before another wave or the low before the pandemic ceases to exist. The approach to tackle should be with prayers for the latter and preparation for the former. Several experts are predicting that the third wave will hit the country between September and October. We are already in mid-September and let us prepare with full ammunition to tackle the wave; if it ever comes in the worst case.

                  I don’t completely conform to the idea of man controlling nature. Nature is always peculiar, strongest, and mightier than man. This is the lesson corroborated by the pandemic as well where we are at the mercy of nature which is wielding virus at the humans. It is for granted that man cannot escape nature's fury in any measure. But we can certainly limit the damage after studying the course of action with modern tools at disposal. Take the example of a cyclone forming in an ocean or a sea near the coastal areas. With weather predictions, we can identify the cyclone near the coast, long before any damage it may cause and alert the areas under its eye, surroundings. This has been happening for a long time and the damage is being limited. Similarly, the pandemic has been around for nearly 1.9 years and many tools have been developed to prevent or cure it. Let us make a sound prediction of when the next wave is going to occur and prepare our best selves to limit the damage. Nature’s fury in the form of pandemic can be shielded with necessary steps and caution.

                 There are many examples of modern man controlling nature when it is in permissible limits. Dams are being constructed to regulate the flow of water and prevent any possible floods. Let us build a dam to stop the flow of this pandemic and save lives, livelihoods. While accepting nature's dominance, let us quietly ‘build a dam’ to check the flow and prevail. There came a point that we can no longer lose our lives to this virus lamely. The point of the above passage is the deaths are needless in some parts of the world and the virus ripping apart in multiple waves can also be controlled.

           I have spoken about the positive ‘Pandemic Democracy’ in the last post and its importance under recent developments. The multitudes need to recoil from the effects of the pandemic and spring back to life. The lapse caused by the pandemic should not hurt the common man and he needs to work with a renewed vigour without losing the track. When this has been spoken, it is not just relegated to theory but happening on the ground. For example, who would have thought the country would forget the devastating first, second wave, open up so quickly and rebound to earlier levels of action. The GDP growth rate rebounding sharply in the first quarter of this financial year by increasing more than 20% year on year is a testament of people overcoming the negative impact of the pandemic.

                  There is a certain upbeat, buoyancy in the market, negating the challenges of the pandemic to the mental, physical, and emotional dimensions of the public. While it has been projected for the recovery to be a long one taking many years, it happened much faster and in no time. Despite the country witnessing a second wave at its height, there is no pulling back from achieving record GDP growth in the Apr-June quarter. Despite the deadly second wave where the country struggled to breathe, there is no pulling back on opening everything immediately and getting back to life. One can hardly believe the second wave in the country which had bodies floating in Ganga happened just three months ago. The mood has swung 180 degrees and one can hardly remember the second wave. When the people fell due to the pandemic, they fell on a spring board which forced them to reach their original position or higher in no time.

                  While I do not take into consideration the marginal few, it has been seen in general the democracy in pandemic is positively affected as the output numbers at the size of a country speak in affirmation. At the micro level as well, there are good vibes in action and the continuous dedication of many has brought much relief to many others. When the warrior workers are ascending the levels and reaching epic proportions of service, it is certain to bring rewards to the lower strata. Thanks to the epic scale of work done by the covid-warriors, the loss of many is compensated and turned to gain in no time. Similarly, going ahead, one can see and get convinced the students do not find gaps in learning as well and their shortcomings in subjects will be more than compensated as they grow older with the bonus of holidays and home-based learning for over a year. The schools reopening in the mid of the pandemic is proof of this.

                 Just like the GDP which rebounded to the levels it contracted a year ago due to the hardworking covid warriors, workers and government at all levels, the overall net loss due to the pandemic will be zero or negative. Negative because of the positive gain many will experience. For this to happen many of us need to become self-effacing covid-warriors or those who work in pandemic more than what we normally do, to put everyone back on track. Hence, this positive ‘Pandemic democracy’ is a groundwork in action without just restricting to prophesy, ideal world or mere good words on paper.

                  From the mythology as well, we can all lessen the pain of others in the pandemic when yagnas, homas and other spiritual offerings are made to God for the public good of all. All the inauspiciousness which has encapsulated the world through a virus can be driven away, when these religious offerings are made to the God to create auspiciousness, good omens, and vibrancy to get our lives back. In general interest, the heads at all levels must go back to the culture, mythology, and ancient wisdom to perform various yagnas, rituals, ceremonies laid out to cure the suffering and drive away the defects.

                  It is appealed to all to perform yagna and offer aahuti (oblation) and purify the environment because performing this sacred ritual to eliminate pandemics has been a tradition since ages. Yagnas are performed widely to lessen the misery of people, absolution from sins since ancient times. This hidden secret in the ancient texts should solve the pandemic woes of people. As always, the subscription to culture and age-old practices goes a long way to definitely shower good days upon us and protect us from evil.

                  Navigating back, a look at the vaccination in the country tells 74.3 crore doses are administered till date. 80 lakh doses are given on an average in the country for the past seven days. While this is a good attempt, it still lags the target by a huge margin. Consider the scenario – only 55 doses per 100 eligible people are given when 200 is the goal. This puts the country in the last rung of nations as far as vaccination per 100 people is considered and the threat of a third wave is also taken into consideration. What the U.S. is experiencing – pandemic of unvaccinated - cannot be taken out of equation in the country as well. This should put us on the toes and increase the pace of vaccination in the coming days or weeks. In the context of the above write-up, the developed nations with minute population should end the pandemic as soon as possible.