Festivities and Fatalities

One established fact about the transmission of Covid-19 is that an infected person can spread the virus to hundreds of people at a single event, and the proliferation that follows thereafter is best left to one’s imagination. This is why health experts have been repeatedly warning the people since the outbreak of the disease earlier this year to stay away from social events like festivals, weddings, funerals, etc. that require big gatherings, as such events turned into “superspreaders” and will continue to do so. With festive season around the corner, the Health department of Nagaland state has expressed worry, stating that organisers of social events like sports and other gatherings should take responsibility of the danger such activities pose to society. It said December festivities will be vital to controlling the pandemic in the state and that the only way to curb the transmission of the disease is to strictly stick to all personal safety measures and avoid social gatherings and events. The worry is legit as there are possibilities of people getting carried away during festivities.

Usually, it’s the state government that receives all the blame and bashing. It did reasonably well, with the exception of some loopholes, while handling the crisis- from creating awareness to constructing dozens of quarantine centres to bringing thousands of stranded citizens home and facilitating those stranded in the state to reach their hometowns; upgrading ill-equipped healthcare centres to treating the patients, yet criticisms flooded social media platforms. The state government also cancelled all big events, including the Hornbill Festival to mitigate the spread of the virus. Now, can the public respond to this pandemic similarly or at least follow all the precautionary measures during Christmas and New Year celebrations? It is yet to be seen but if what you see at popular markets in Dimapur like New Market, Hong Kong Bazaar and Hazi Park is anything to go by, one can safely say that public has become very complacent with least regard for government’s directives. Hundreds of shoppers have been thronging these markets for days, jostling their way through the crowd in the narrow paths, making a mockery of “social distancing”. This scene will change when the festivities begin and these shopping hotspots wear a relatively deserted look as people usually retreat to their homes and villages to be with their loved ones. But if people do not pay heed to the government authorities’ call to avoid big social gatherings, things could get out of hand and the people will suffer at the end of the day. Why? Because, if the same people who shopped in crowded areas contract the virus and mix with their community members and villagers during celebrations, the outcome will be catastrophic. It will not only lead to increase in cases but also spread to remote villages where healthcare facilities are not available. So, it is vital for the citizens to celebrate responsibly by strictly following all safety measures. Festivities shouldn’t cause more fatalities. Moreover, giving up the fight when the victory is in sight will give room for regret.