By Marcellus D’Souza

Apr 8: As much as various state governments as well as the Union government would like us to believe that the worst of Covid is behind us, fresh figures indicate that the country reported 1,109 new cases today (Friday April 8, 2022). This is a rise of 7% higher than yesterday.

Many state governments have thrown caution to the wind and allowed face masks not to be worn compulsorily. This is shocking when data realised by the Union Health Ministry indicates that there are 11,000 active cases of Covid in the country.

India saw 43 Covid fatalities in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 5,21,530, according to the data realised.

But do these numbers matter to the person on the street or in a crowded bus or a market place. We got to accept the fact that we have never used the mask properly. We wear it out of a compulsion – below our chin, not covering the nostrils, around the necks or not at all. It is tucked away in the pocket for safe keeping. This is because of a fear that we may be ‘fined’ for not wearing the mask.

Mired excuses are offered when requested to wear the mask properly. In fact, governments have been under tremendous pressure to do away with the wearing of mask. This is despite the fact that the medical fraternity is not very comfortable with the decision not to wear mask. The doctors are aware of the intensity of the situation but have their hands tied behind their backs.

The recorded 1,109 new Covid cases, takes the Corona Virus tally to 4,30,31,958. The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 98.76 per cent. The daily positivity rate was recorded as 0.23 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was 0.22 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,24,97,567.

Many think these are just numbers put out by the Union Health Ministry and treat them with disdain. We have further chosen to ignore the new strain of Covid. This new strain has already arrived in Mumbai. The XE variant is the subvariant of Omicron Covid-19. It is a mutation of the BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron strains, referred to as a 'recombinant'. The XE variant is considered to be more transmissible.

Initial studies indicate that the XE variant has a growth rate of 9.8% over that of BA.2, also known as the stealth variant because of its ability to evade detection. The XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2) was first detected in the UK on January 19 and more than 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed since then.

The symptoms of XE Covid variants include fatigue, dizziness, headaches, sore throat, fever, heart ailment and palpitation. The XE-affected patients experience Covid symptoms like loss of smell and taste.

XE Covid was detected in a 50-year-old woman who had travelled to South Africa in February. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the woman was asymptomatic and had no comorbidities. She had been vaccinated with both doses of the COMIRNATY vaccine. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) experts were conducting genomic analysis of the case found in Mumbai.

As much as the mask may be thought of as an obstruction, the jury has not arrived at a definitive answer on whether the mask needs to be worn or discarded. It depends on the medical facility or politician opines on the subject. The medical facility in Goa is not satisfied with the decision to do away with the face mask. As much as doctors call it a ‘political decision’, they shrug their shoulders when questioned on the subject. Goa’s Immunisation Medical Officer of Goa Dr. Rajendra Borkar expressed caution at the suggestion. “COVID is still present in Goa. The State Expert Committee will decide whether Goa will go mask-free or not,” said Dr. Borkar.