The advent of winter has brought a spike in Covid-19 cases and one of the reasons for this, say experts, is the "super-spreaders"—people aged between 20 and 40, who are the most exposed to infection as they must go outside to earn their livelihood. While many of them have mild to no symptoms, they can infect those who fall under the vulnerable category. People aged 50 years and above and those with pre-existing conditions are at the highest risk. The death rate is higher for this group, about 79 percent, as stated by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

So what is the message that should be made loud and clear to the public? As the director of IEDCR has said, it is crucial that the super-spreader group maintain the health guidelines—wearing masks, washing hands with soap frequently, and maintain physical distance. But what we see in public spaces is quite the opposite of that. Buses are filled with people, many people have stopped wearing masks, and whether they wash their hands or sanitise them is questionable. This is because there is a kind of indifference regarding these guidelines which need to be disseminated more vigorously by the health authorities through national TV, radio, loudspeakers and other public awareness campaigns. Enforcing these guidelines is difficult if people are not really convinced about how important these are and that following these makes the difference between life and death. They should be made aware that their disregard for something as basic as wearing a mask or maintaining social distancing can actually cause the death of their loved ones, their neighbours or those who they don't know but may come in close contact with.

Covid-19 is now closer to home than ever and we just cannot afford to be so lackadaisical about our adherence to these guidelines. In cities like Dhaka and Chattogram, social distancing is practically impossible but at least those who are in the super-spreader category can wear masks and stay away from those in the vulnerable category, who should also wear masks whenever there is a possibility of exposure.

Specialists have said that the daily figures are just a "snapshot of the whole picture", and to get the real scenario, we need to do at least five lakh tests daily. This is indeed disconcerting given that our testing is way below that. The health minister has urged people to get tested especially since the antigen testing has also been introduced to selected areas to increase testing capacity. He has also said that people are reluctant to test. The government should make testing easier and affordable. Outdoor testing camps with proper social distancing can be introduced to minimises exposure.

As we battle a second wave of Covid-19, we must learn from our past experiences to better combat this deadly disease. Better, more accessible testing facilities and strict adherence to health guidelines will go a long way. It will save lives.