The corona virus has posed a threat to our lives as well as livelihood for the last fifteen months without a pause. But there were also ups and downs in the threat. Sometimes it dipped but was never gone completely.

67 died from Covid-19 on Friday. The official figures disclosed that this number was the highest score of daily fatality in one and half months. It was also disclosed that the rate of new infection has gone up by 55.16 per cent and death rate by 46.30 per cent.

But only two months ago, the Corona virus threat in Bangladesh appeared dwindled down so low that people probably started speculating that it would ultimately be phased out fairly soon. The daily death figure from Corona dipped and also the rate of new infection.

This state of affairs bred optimism perhaps in some official circles that Bangladesh probably had turned a corner fully in defeating Corona. The signs of relaxation were much more prominent in social life. Media reports highlighted that mobility of people had reached pre pandemic level from people sensing an ease in the corona situation.

However, the latest much higher figures of the number of daily deaths and new infection are very worrisome indeed suggesting that such optimisms had been premature to say the least. Experts fear that there could be a third wave of Covid surge and it may have already started.

We are eagerly awaiting a befitting response from our relevant authorities to the resurgence of Covid-19 though earlier it created the illusion that Bangladesh could be the first major country in the world to become naturally free from Corona virus threat. This is just a too idle or wishy washy thinking devoid of any scientific basis or not founded on experience.

There cannot be just any easing of regulations against Covid-19 and taking of preventive actions. Indeed, there is now every reason for all in Bangladesh to gird up their loins and go all out in every way to build afresh even stronger barriers to Covid-19 virus.

No doubt there has been considerable progress in Corona treatment in the areas of medicine, vaccine and creation of facilities to cope with the disease. But the same are not adequate to assure that a breakdown in treatment will not occur specially in the backdrop of the delta variant of Corona from India which caused so much havoc there and seems poised to engulf neighboring Bangladesh.

What can be most important in order to put a brake on the rising infection rate from Corona ? Government here has taken timely steps in freezing movement across the Indo-Bangladesh border areas. This must be continued for a longer period of time. Normal movements across the border will only be justified after the situation in India improves a great deal more.

Meanwhile, according to experts, our administration and people in general must go all out to ensure that preventive measures are really followed. The people need to be exhorted, advised and discouraged not to give up on the new normal habits they developed during the height of the pandemic last year.

It should be firmly printed in the mass psyche that people must continue with the habit of wearing masks, remaining indoors as much as possible, washing hands frequently and observing social distancing even after taking the vaccine. Government must go for stricter enforcement activities to these ends. It appears that police and others have been shockingly unaware or lackadaisical about enforcement activities after being seen relatively more serous during certain times last year.

Our policy makers must become dead serious ‘immediately’ to formulate short term, mid term and longer term policies against the Corona threat to be applied without a pause and admitting no exceptions. It is imperative to rethink opening of the vulnerable sectors too abruptly or widely. The resorts, hotels and motels of prime tourism venues of the country reportedly were overflowing with people before the recent resutgence.

Such crowding can be a fertile source of social transmission of the disease. We think it is high time to keep restricted once again the visiting of people in such great number to the tourist and recreation spots. The tourism and recreation related business need to be ordered not to admit any more than half of their capacities and to observe preventive measures stringently. Law enforcement authorities should be required to monitor compliance with this order or not. Such restrictions need to be imposed and monitored immediately and unfailingly in all assemblages such as mosques, religious events, fairs, etc. Maintaining of social distancing and other preventive activities rigorously must be made mandatory.

The celebration of Eid-ul-Azha is nearing that would involve huge number of people travelling to and from various destinations before and after the Eid holidays ; such events work like super spreaders. Our leadership from the highest level need to take decisions well in advance and implement them to discourage people in the greatest number from travelling during the Eid.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was noted for requesting people time and again to celebrate the recently celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr by staying in their present location or work stations. Unfortunately, the persuasion was probably only partly heeded. The administration was seen almost hopelessly giving in to pressure at ferry ghats and other conduit points to people frenetically rushing to village homes before Eid.

The administration needs to watch over this journey during the coming Eid-ul-Azha and keep it as much as possible as one of people feeling obliged to use at least masks and practicing other safety measures rigorously. People need to be persuaded harder not to go for the same mad rush of going to village homes in the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha .

Cooperation of the employers may be sought by the government to motivate their employees not to go to village homes. A bearable monetary incentive can be paid to this end both by the government and private employers. Such steps will need to be accompanied by dissemination of publicities such as saving of money, avoidance of physical hardships, etc. by not making such travels for at least this year in the greater interest of the nation.

The progress of delta variant of Covid-19 inside Bangladesh must be stooped with greatest reliance on ‘enforcing preventive measures.’ This variant is 70 per cent more dangerous in causing deaths and increasing social transmissions compared to the older variants found both in Bangladesh and India.