If large public participation in major festivities such as Jagannath Rath Yatra, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam and Durga Puja over the past two months is any indication, a majority of Indians seem to have overcome their fear of Covid and its variants. After two years of low-key celebrations, the public is ready to live it up as the country gears up to celebrate Diwali on October 24. Party and Diwali celebration season is in full swing in most of the top 20 cities of India.
However, around the world, the COVID situation is once again starting to look complicated. With 4 new immune developed Omron variants BQ.1.1, XBB, BA.2.75.2 and BF.7 in different parts of the world, an unprecedented situation is likely to emerge as multiple variants are appearing in many countries for the first time . At the same time Omicron is growing.
Immune evading refers to a method that bypasses immunity from a prior infection or vaccination that concerns public health experts and immunologists. Some of these types have already been identified with India With no restrictions on international travel in the last few weeks and no restrictions on international travel, India risks starting a new boom or wave in the last 2 months of the year. Diwali, being the biggest festival in the country brings people together before and after where people not only socialize amongst families and friends but also through large community events that take place a week before Diwali, a week before Diwali. see you. To understand how people are likely to socialize this Diwali, LocalCircle conducted a survey that received over 21,000 responses from people located across 319 districts of India.
• Percentage of households planning to socialize on Diwali increased from 48% in 2021 to 67% in 2022
• 1 in 3 households does not plan to attend any meetings in the next 15 days; Estimate greater risk of infection/re-infection due to new omicron-covid variants
• Recently identified new Covid-Omicron variants include BQ.1.1, XBB. BA.2.75.2 and BF.7
The first question in the survey asked people whether they were planning to attend festival celebrations, family get-togethers or other events in the neighborhood or at work. To the question “What kind of get-together do you expect to be involved in the next 15 days?”, only 33% of the 12,221 respondents answered in the negative. Of the remainder, 16% planned to “get together for festivals”, 11% planned to attend “birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions”, and 3% had other events organized in the neighborhood, workplace, etc. Planned programs. In addition, 18% planned to attend the first two categories, 3% in categories 2 and 3, the other 5% for public events whether for festival celebrations or neighborhood events. Another 11% indicated plans to engage in all types of Get Together in the next 15 days.
Public sentiment to return to a normal life before the pandemic has been revived as a LocalCircle survey conducted during the same month last year revealed that only 48% were ready to come together and celebrate during Diwali, while Now it is 67%. The situation was dire last year as many more families lost their loved ones or saw them suffer due to the severity of the disease during the second wave of Covid. While the festive spirit has gained momentum, the need of the hour is to practice masking and social distancing while social distancing in crowded places both indoors and outdoors. The newly identified variants of Omicron have been found to be highly contagious and India may see an increase similar to the third wave of COVID in January 2022.
Only 1 out of 3 households surveyed are at high risk of Covid spreading this Diwali
Through the next question in the survey, LocalCircles attempted to understand the risk perception of people due to socializing this Diwali. It asked the respondents, “With Diwali-related and other socialization likely in the next 15 days, social distancing compliance is close to zero in most parts of India, how much risk do they see from COVID?” In response, 21% of the 9,806 respondents said they “don’t see much risk as a mini boom has begun to decline”, 24% felt “there was some risk as new versions of Omicron-Covid keep coming”. are” while 27% foresee “the newer forms of omicron-Covid as at greater risk and the higher risk of re-infection”. In contrast, 21% of respondents said they “do not see much risk as the COVID pandemic is now a viral/flu-like one” and another 7% are unsure or unwilling to comment on the subject.
In short, after two years of largely limited Diwali celebrations, Indians are ready to party and socialize this year, with 67% of households planning one or more types of get-togethers. Newer covid variants like BQ.1.1, XBB, BA.2.75.2 and BF.7 are increasing in different parts of the world and have recently been identified in India, there is some risk of spread of covid due to festive socialization. Only 1 in 3 Indian households sees this as a big risk and worth socializing away from. As for the rest, Covid fatigue has set in and given that at least the officially reported numbers are always low, there is no better time to socialize. According to LocalCircles the key here is to socialize with caution, i.e. following proper COVID protocols of masking and social distancing indoors and even in crowded outdoor settings and be aware of any known risks. Isolate when you have or experience any COVID symptoms.
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