Renewed COVID-19 threat demands vigilance and proactive measures in Manipur

As India begins to see a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the reappearance of the virus in Manipur, with five persons testing positive recently, is a sobering reminder that the pandemic is not yet over. While the Health Directorate has reportedly initiated preventive steps, the situation calls for a broader, more coordinated response from the state government to protect lives and prevent another public health crisis.
The global community is all too familiar with the devastation caused by COVID-19 since its first outbreak in 2019. Economies collapsed, health infrastructures were overwhelmed, and millions of lives were lost. Manipur, like many other parts of the country, bore the brunt of the pandemic’s worst phases — experiencing hospital shortages, lack of oxygen, economic stagnation, and tragic loss of lives. The pain of the past should serve as a powerful lesson in preparedness.
Today, although the scale of infections may seem modest compared to previous years, the virus’s nature — with its capacity to mutate and spread rapidly — makes it dangerous. The detection of new cases in Manipur must not be taken lightly. The virus thrives in complacency, and as mass gatherings continue in entertainment venues, social events, and marketplaces, the risk of transmission increases significantly. Festivals, concerts, and sports events, where large groups congregate in close proximity, can quickly become super-spreader events if appropriate precautions are not taken.
To its credit, the Health Directorate has already swung into action with initial containment and awareness efforts. Testing, isolation, and contact tracing must be intensified in affected areas. Hospitals should be instructed to reactivate their COVID response plans, and stockpiles of medical supplies, including PPE kits, masks, oxygen cylinders, and antiviral drugs, must be reviewed and replenished. But this is only part of the solution.
The government of Manipur needs to take a more assertive and comprehensive approach. Preparedness must now involve revisiting COVID management protocols, activating district-level task forces, and ensuring that local authorities are equipped to respond promptly to any escalation. Clear public communication, once a critical element in pandemic control, must return with updated advisories through radio, television, print, and digital platforms to sensitize the public once again about hygiene, symptoms, and the importance of voluntary testing.
One of the state’s significant assets in this fight is the presence of Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, who as Home Secretary during the height of the pandemic played a pivotal role in India’s coordinated COVID-19 response. His understanding of crisis management, containment strategies, and inter-departmental coordination should be seen as a valuable resource. If consulted appropriately, his expertise can aid the state administration in streamlining its current preparedness.
Moreover, the government should consider imposing time-bound guidelines on public gatherings without imposing blanket bans. Mandatory mask use in crowded places, random testing in public venues, and mandatory vaccination checks at entry points of large events could be viable options. Equally important is the revival of public-private partnerships in the health sector, which played an essential role in delivering testing, vaccination, and treatment during the earlier waves.
Public trust and cooperation are indispensable. People need to be reassured that the authorities are in control, but they must also be reminded of their own responsibilities. Vaccination drives must be accelerated, especially for booster doses among vulnerable groups. Schools and colleges should be given updated guidelines and sanitization supplies. Community-based organisations, clubs, and volunteers can play a meaningful role in spreading awareness and assisting local health units.
We cannot afford to be caught off guard again. The memory of overwhelmed hospitals, lost loved ones, and economic hardship is still fresh in the minds of the people of Manipur. It is the duty of the government, health institutions, and citizens alike to act swiftly and decisively. Prevention is always less painful and far less costly than cure.
The return of COVID-19 may not yet be a wave, but it is certainly a warning — one that must not be ignored.