Stop scaring, create awareness

At a time when the experts have made it clear that the new variant is likely to cause a new wave of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir, but a section of media is out to create a scare among the masses by writing the fourth wave of pandemic, validating that the new wave is certain. Although the experts as well as the government have already appealed the people to take all the mandatory precautionary measures including wearing face masks and other things, but a section of media instead of creating awareness at this juncture have been out to create scare to add miseries to the people, who have already bore the brunt of the situation that arise after the outbreak of the pandemic across the globe. First detected in February 2021, BF.7 has been in circulation for the last 22 months across 91 countries without much impact. The prevalence of the variant in sequenced samples has remained below 0.5% worldwide. The health experts have claimed that India detected its first case of BF.7 in July this year and it has not contributed significantly to Covid cases compared to other simultaneously circulating Omicron sublineages. With high vaccination rates and natural immunity, the experts believe that the possibility of having a wave due to this variant is less. The statement has been made by the medicos on the basis of research and facts, but a section of media has not been paying heed to such statements, but are trying to create further scare. Therefore, at this juncture, the people instead of getting scared, should follow all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) so that the fourth wave is prevented.