Negative is the New Positive

India has seen a massive surge in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases again. Citizens not taking enough precautionary measures, not wearing masks in public spaces, and not maintaining social distances have resulted in the second wave of COVID-19.

Citizens made a virtual public healthcare system for the public on their own via social media

While the Indian Government has failed terribly to manage the public healthcare system, the citizens have started helping each other on their own with the help of social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

Hashtags like #Oxygen #Remdevisir #ICUBeds #PlasmaDonors #Ventilator #HospitalBed started flooding on the social media timelines and feeds to help each other out. Social media became a "Socially Helping Media" platform. Social media is buzzing 24x7 either to get help or to help someone in need.

There are vaccine centers but no stock of vaccine (illustrator: Anagha Sawant)

While the government is happily increasing the number of vaccination centers to control and manage the crowd outside the vaccination centers, but what about the vaccine? Is there enough stock to vaccinate the public?

Mumbai shuts down vaccination for three days due to vaccine doses shortage in the city. The BMC authorities on April 29, 2021 announced that they haven't got any assurance that doses would be available any time soon. "If they do arrive, vaccination will be restarted on a day's notice," said, Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner.

(illustrator: Anagha Sawant)

Many times, people have to go back home without getting vaccinated. Some people who are not able to register themselves through the app, end up queuing outside the center hours before the center opens. Eg: The Bhabha Hospital vaccination center which usually opens at 8.00 am in the morning, for offline registration, people start queueing up at 5.30 am.

Stay Home, Stay Negative (illustrator: Anagha Sawant)

Lastly, I will like to say, staying negative is the only positive sign these days.

Do help each other and if needed, ask for help: COVID-19 list of resources on Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/events/1385596085192691712

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