THE second wave of the coronavirus pandemic affected areas that were spared during the first wave. Owing to the virus mutation, the second wave is quite alarming for both the national health and the national economy.

It is crucial for the public to strictly adhere to the SOPs to contain the spread of the virus, but Pakistanis have been showing a strange non-serious attitude towards the virus, and there is a huge lapse in compliance with necessary precautions.

It is a common narrative among the public that Covid-19 is gone. No one can be blamed but the government itself for this narrative among the masses.

Officials across the spectrum keep bragging about how effectively they have dealt with the virus, and this only underplays the actual threat the country is facing, and encourages people to take their chances. To make matters worse, government officials and other so-called guardians of democracy in the opposition continue to hold large public gatherings and organise meetings in closed spaces with apparently no social distancing. They often fidget with their masks.

It is upon us, the masses, to act responsibly and play our part in mitigating this menace as we did before.

Fatima Attique

Lahore

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021