The general expectation was that Covid in India would subside with the availability of the vaccine. But the number of Covid patients is skyrocketing, upsetting all calculations. It is difficult to even remember the tragedy that befell man when the lockdown was announced in March last year. No one can forget the ‘exodus’ of migrant labourers from Kerala. Some even expected Covid to end when the lockdown ended. But experience has shown that it was only a beginning.

As the Covid cases surge, restrictions in the state have also been tightened again. Shops and hotels can only be open until nine o'clock at night. Hotels usually bustle at night during Ramadan. Authorities need to check whether hotels can be allowed to serve packet food for at least one more hour, considering Ramadan. When the restrictions increase, the economic downturn caused by that will not go unnoticed. Areas including traffic will become lifeless when restrictions are imposed, not to mention the tourism sector. But as the number of patients increases, there is no other option but to strictly enforce the regulations.

Covid paralyzes man not only health-wise and money-wise but also mentally. The Department of Health needs to provide more attention and counselling facilities in a virtual way to alleviate the mental stress experienced by students and the elderly. Students who spent time without going to school are worried that it will be the same again next year also. Even if the study is done through online classes, the mental and physical development of the children will not be possible.
Southern Railway has made Covid negative certificate, e-pass and e-registration mandatory for inter-state train journeys. The journey itself is expensive. When such tests come along with it, many ordinary people will just avoid traveling.

It is a fact that over the months people have lost some of the care and fear that they had in the beginning. Intermittent elections gave it more impetus to surge in Covid cases. So everyone should be ready with one mind to adhere to restrictions that existed in the beginning and exercise self-control. In this case, the people must cooperate fully with the restrictions. At the same time, efforts should be there to ensure that vaccination drive is expedited and maximum people get two doses of the vaccine. If the people unite and fend off the pandemic, freedom from it can be expected in the next six months or so.