It’s within the community, authority should accept it

Even as the government of Manipur and its concerned department still deny community transmission of COVID-19 in the state, the way that people are being infected indicates that the dreaded virus has already started spreading at the community level.
Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Yumnam Khemchand had accepted it. He had said that the virus has started spreading at the community level while speaking during a valedictory function of the quarantine center opened at Manipur College, Imphal on Sunday. Some Civil Society leaders had also said that community transmission of COVID-19 has already begun and is in the initial stage. Many people including experts have similar views and why shouldn’t it be with the various circumstances shreds of evidence of people being tested positive with the virus.
The virus was first traced to returnees from outside the state. There were rumours about lapses of management at the quarantine centers, which is mandatory for all returnees, and some believed many volunteers had contacted the virus from the quarantine centers who then spread to their families and localities. Today, there are many persons infected by the virus who neither have travel history nor came into close contact with infected persons.This is most worrying scenerio which hints towards contraction of the deadly virus from nowhere – a case of community transmission.
There was not that much panic among the people when front-liner health workers contracted the virus from those infected persons whom they treated, however, when persons without travelling record or contact tracing with those infected tests positive with the virus, it is common sense to be panic. And it is obvious that people assume the virus now spread at the community level. There are now possibilities that any person get infected if proper precautionary measures other then freezing the normal life has been taken up.
Now, what matters is why the state health department cannot accept the reality when even the speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly himself had accepted that the virus is spreading at the community level. And moreover why is the government reluctant to accept death of patients with Covid-19. However, it turned reality. They should not fear criticism of general public. What is matter is sincerity in meeting the challenges.
Is it because that announcement of the virus to have been spreading at community level will creat chaos in the society with a tendency to sabotage the containment measures being taken up by the government?
From those returnees from outside the state, frontline workers including doctors, nurses, police have been invaded by the killer virus. It does not confine to these frontline line workers community alone, it now spreads to the staff of Manipur University, DIPR, PWD etc.
Everyday district administrations declared ‘containment zone’ at places where people are tested positive with the virus. In the Thoubal district, almost all areas have been declared as containment zone. Similar is with almost all districts of the state including Imphal East and Imphal West.
The very act of the district administrations indicates that the perception of the people about the virus being spread at the community level is true.
For around 6 months we have been experiencing the impact of the dreaded virus. After so many lockdowns and curfews, the situation is not improving but is rather deteriorating. At this crucial time ignoring the reality by the government will only worsen the situation as we cannot be imprisoned forever by way of imposition of indefinite lockdown or containment zone.
After all we can’t keep going with the government version of handkerchief, mask, etc as announced in radio and other state communication mediums. Our situation is critical now, better to refer entirely on standard WHO guidelines. They prescribed only N95 and 3 layers surgical mask. So far, no quality checking, even in the hospitals, sub-standard masks are issued.
It is time that the government accepts the reality and announces the community transmission of the virus. If the situation is declared officially, new measures and policies could be framed to let life going with the new normalcy.
It may be recalled that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had stated that its time that we learn the virus and live with it by protecting ourselves and taking up all possible measures. It is time that the government congregate all experts and frame a policy to live life without imprisoning the people. After all, we have to move on we can’t starve ouselves to death.The first step towards finding a lasting mechanism for the society will be the acknowledgment of reality.
Remember a stitch in time saves nine. It is still not late.