Quiet Return

As India once again witnesses a surge in COVID-19 cases, with the active caseload crossing 4,000 and fatalities reported across several states, a familiar dilemma resurfaces: should we be worried?

The rise in infections, linked to the NB.1.8.1 sub-variant of the Omicron lineage, demands measured concern. Authorities are urging calm, citing mild symptoms and limited severity. Yet, it is precisely this subtlety that poses a unique threat. When a pandemic returns quietly—without overwhelming ICUs or prompting panic—it risks being dangerously underestimated.

The central government claims readiness, pointing to the oxygen plants, ICU beds, and infrastructure bolstered during the previous waves. However, true preparedness must go beyond inventory checklists. The concern lies in India’s waning public attention, diluted surveillance systems, and a vaccination drive that has stalled. The virus may have weakened in impact, but the systems meant to track, contain, and mitigate it appear to be easing into slumber.

Moreover, complacency in public behaviour is evident. Mask usage is minimal. Testing rates have dropped dramatically. Routine health advisories are either ignored or inadequately publicized. The virus may not yet be deadly in this wave, but it is stealthy—spreading fast, mutating faster, and finding footholds among the vulnerable: the elderly, immuno compromised, and chronically ill. The five recent deaths—all involving patients with underlying conditions—underline this selective but significant threat.

The invocation of NEP-like optimism—where we adapt, learn, and reimagine systems—could be applied here too. India must reinvest in community-level awareness, digital health monitoring, and swift containment protocols. Instead of issuing reassurances, health authorities should emphasize sustained caution and transparency in data sharing. Seasonal flu-like symptoms should not be casually dismissed in a post-COVID world where new variants continue to emerge.

The public, too, must shoulder responsibility. Apathy is not immunity. Masking in crowded spaces, staying home when symptomatic, and checking in on the elderly are not overreactions—they are essentials in a society still healing from past traumas.

In short, this is not the time to panic—but it is absolutely the time to pay attention. COVID-19’s return may be quieter, but our response must not be.