New Delhi: Lockdowns, masks, sanitisers, online gaming, working from home and constant fear of catching the virus, there’s hardly anyone from this generation who can forget the lifestyle changes Covid-19 had introduced us to. While the effect of coronavirus seems to be abating in India, our neighbour China is witnessing another wave of fresh infections, which according to experts have flooded hospitals, morgues and pharmacies.
Soon after reports of the Covid surge in China, Indian authorities braced themselves and directed the states to conduct more tests, and genome sequencing and follow Covid protocols to detect any unusual rise in infections or early detection of new variants. Chandigarh has even made masks mandatory in public places.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the new B.7 variant of Omicron, which is reportedly driving the Covid surge in China, has already made it to India and as many as 4 such cases have been found in international travellers.
While India has so far not seen a rise in Covid-19 cases and is advising people not to lower their guards against the virus, questions like whether the country would go to another lockdown, mask mandate and work-from-home system in case of a surge have once again come to the fore.
Social distancing and masks
With or without Covid, masks are a mandatory weapon these days owing to air pollution, smog and cold. Wearing a mask is always a safer and wiser option, especially at a time when Covid-19 is appearing to make a comeback. As far as social distancing is concerned, the government has advised people not to panic but keeping a safe distance in public places, and closed vicinities like marriage halls, stores and malls is a sensible move in these times.
Work from home
Work from Home model is no more an unprecedented system and many companies have adopted the WFH or a hybrid model of working even after the Covid crisis began to settle. Many corporates in India have adopted a permanent WFH mechanism.
So, in case Covid cases rise in the near future, it is very much possible for companies to go back to working from home.
Lockdowns
As the government issues a statement saying that the Covid situation so far is under control and there is no need to panic, there’s a low chance of seeing those lockdowns and curfews again. The Centre and states have already started taking precautionary measures to curb any potential outbreak.
Vaccination: One-stop solution
We have been in this fight with Covid for almost 2 years now and the only known Sureshot way to battle coronavirus is the vaccine. According to the government, most Indians have already taken both the doses of Covid-19 vaccine which has helped develop hybrid immunity in Indians.
However, the response to booster doses has been low as only 27-28% have taken their booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines.
