As SARS-CoV-2 cases begin to rise once again across the state and country, the threat posed by infectious diseases is far from over. Despite having endured multiple waves of COVID-19, the country’s preparedness to prevent or manage future outbreaks remains inadequate.

“There is little evidence of the robust planning required to contain future surges,” said Dr Subhash Salunke, former director general of Public Health Services and ex-member of the state and ICMR COVID-19 task force.

Speaking to mid-day, he warned of a troubling silence from government agencies and a lack of action on the ground, raising serious questions about whether citizens are being adequately informed by authorities to take the necessary precautions to prevent another COVID-19 outbreak.