The recent uptick in the Covid-19 cases and the looming threat of the Omicron variant is concerning, to say the least. The current positivity rate stands at over 25%, a far cry from the single digits we suffered from mere weeks ago.
In this state, we could not agree more with WHO’s Director General’s Envoy for Covid-19 who stated that strong leadership, and the need to build a community that is aware and involved, are among the strongest tools to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
During the tail-end of the last lockdown, we saw what right leadership looked like. Protocols were properly enforced, and there was an urgency in the community to get vaccines. That urgency is what we must rediscover.
People are reluctant to wear even masks now, and the desire to get vaccines appears to be dwindling. On top of that -- due in no small part to the mismanagement of the authorities -- people question the daily infection rates. The situation threatens to go from bad to worse if the authorities don't react in time.
We need to inspire the community to mobilize like last time. Communities have to be mobilized to a point where they enter self-imposed lockdowns, and people are encouraged by their own peers to get vaccinated. The non-use of masks has to be frowned upon, and shops and restaurants need to make sure the recent directives are carried out.
The next few weeks will be crucial for the country. We need decisive leadership, across all sectors, to ensure that we do not repeat the dark days of the pandemic that we experienced last year.
