With fears of a second wave of Covid-19 coming in winter—as is happening in Europe and other countries—the government's preparation for it seems to be limited to rhetoric only. Large numbers of people in the country have all but stopped wearing face masks in public, and the government has not been able to strictly enforce other health safety rules either. Even more disappointingly, the health directorate has not been successful in ensuring adequate tests, central oxygen supply and other life-support equipment at public hospitals across the country. This has left experts worried that, should the number of cases start to spike, our healthcare system will once again be ill-prepared to handle the rise in infections.

Experts believe strict implementation of the health safety rules is the key to containment of virus transmission, and have urged the government to take effective preventive measures based on projections and experience gained over the last eight months. However, it seems that the government has not been learning from past mistakes and has failed to address many of them. Whether it be the issue of testing or quarantining passengers travelling into the country, or launching public awareness campaigns, or introducing antigen-based rapid testing, the government seems to be slow to react, if not reluctant. Meanwhile, the health ministry's initiative to set up central oxygen supply systems in 79 district hospitals seems to have fallen flat—after nearly five months, only 24 Covid dedicated hospitals in the country have central oxygen supply systems.

We are absolutely baffled by this. What makes the authorities so confident that they have not taken even the most basic precautionary measures? Is it apathy that is driving this kind of behaviour? When lives could potentially be at stake, why isn't the government more urgently trying to prepare for a possible second wave? When about a thousand new cases are still being reported daily—despite the decline in testing—why are the authorities acting as if the outbreak is all but over?

This is totally irresponsible and may lead to further devastating consequences. The authorities need to strictly enforce the health safety rules such as mask wearing and continue spreading awareness among people to follow them. Travellers coming into the country must be quarantined to prevent further spread, and Covid dedicated hospitals in the country must have central oxygen supply systems installed. There can be no excuses this time that the government did not have prior warnings and time to prepare. The last months have provided the government with ample time and experience. This time, there will be no one left to blame but the government itself, should the situation again start to spiral out of control.