Covid-19 Back in Focus: Are We Ready to Face the Pandemic Again?
With Covid-19 back in news, are we physically and mentally ready for another pandemic wave? Experts weigh in on health, immunity, and mental preparedness.
Covid-19 Back in News: Are We Truly Prepared—Physically and Mentally—for Another Wave of the Pandemic?
After almost two years of lull, Covid-19 is again back in the headlines due to fresh reported outbreaks in Southeast Asia, which include countries like Singapore and Hong Kong. While India has not seen an alarming spike in cases since the third wave infection caused by the Omicron variant during the initial part of 2022, the sudden rise abroad has raised valid concerns within India. Important, though, is establishing the fact that one crucial question needs to be answered: are we really ready-not just physically, but also mentally-for facing yet another wave of the potentially lingering pandemic?
The haunting memories of the powerful second wave that struck between April-May 2021 still linger in the minds of Indians. The death toll resulting from the Delta variant-or B.1.617.2-ran to thousands of people, and left families stuck under deluge after deluge of loss. It may, indeed, appear that the immediate threat is minimal, but doctors call for caution without panic. In the words of Dr Bharat Agrawal, Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, the immunity level is presently good and reasonable in the country owing to a good amount of vaccinations and natural infections. Existing vaccines continue to work even on such mild strains as the JN.1 variant and prevent deterioration in symptoms, reducing hospitalization rates.
However, he warns against letting our guard down completely. These basic precautions like using a mask around crowds, maintaining hand hygiene, and adhering to respiratory etiquette still matter. This ensures that we don’t get caught by surprise when another variant takes a more serious form.
When it comes to the durability of our antibodies, Dr Agrawal explains that while they do decline over time, they do never completely go away. Hybrid immunity, consisting of a combination of vaccination and natural infection, still allows our bodies to remember how to defend against the virus. Even if that person is reinfected, his symptoms are usually mild due to the rapid response of immune memory cells.
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However, it isn’t physical readiness that counts alone. Psychological readiness is the other half of bearing the psychological burden of the damage caused during the Covid-19 pandemic. Indian and international studies show that a significant jump in anxiety and depression was seen during the pandemic years. In its pandemic year, WHO has reported a 25% increase in mental health issues during the first year of the outbreak. Even though India weathered most of such challenges, particularly in semi-urban to rural regions where family and community support helped people cope, the mental impact cannot be ignored.
As put by Dr Suresh Bada Math, psychiatrist at NIMHANS, that old traditional Indian social structures provided a pillow that cushioned the fall from psychological trauma the pandemic brought. But those who think about their psychological preparedness would contradict such a statement because, like a nagging sore, trauma, grief, and anxiety from the initial waves remain buried in people. Should fears or restrictions return, those emotional wounds could resurface.
Kalentzis asserts that effective pandemic response requires focus on resilient healthcare systems and emotional preparedness. Fully open communication channels, psychological support, and public policies that take into account physical safety and mental well-being would be important to weather any such future wave of pandemic with strength.
Indeed, Covid-19 has reopened conversations among people all over the world. Preparations for a future event are not about medicines and masks only-these go hand in hand with minds and morale.
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