EDITORIAL: Nipping Second Wave Of COVID-19

It is no longer news that the world currently grapples with the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. What could constitute news is the possibility of a sad return of lockdowns, a reality we all detest. Yet, we are not all that fastidious to obey the rules in averting a relapse.

News has it that owing to the return of the deadly scourge, Spain has declared an emergency, which may extend to March 2021. The United Kingdom declared a month lockdown; France, two weeks; Germany, four weeks; while Italy is not also folding arms in helpless resignation to bad fate brought by the virus.

The most dreadful aspect is the bombshell thrown by experts who stated that this round of the pandemic portends to be much deadlier than the earlier bout.

In our own clime, apart from official places where wearing of facemask is compulsory, nobody cares anymore. COVID-19 protocols have been thrown into dustbin. The Yuletide season is here. It is thus instructive that we try to the utmost to celebrate with moderation and abide by the protocols which we have learnt the hard way. There are many more festivities lined up ahead of us but it is of prerequisite importance that we should stay safe to be alive to witness and celebrate them.

Except it is compulsory to move around, it is wise and expedient to stay where we are during this festive period, in very small companies.

Government should expedite actions on timely sample collection and testing so as to enhance timely isolation and treatment of index cases as well as efficient contact tracing to forestall spread.

There is wisdom and expediency in prevention. It saves our species from mass extermination, keeps us safe and healthy and saves us from lockdowns and their attendant inconveniences to persons and the economy as we all need to be up and doing to repair our ailing socio-economic spectra that is largely based on daily earnings.