Rishabh Pant and one assistant trainer tested positive for the coronavirus and this has come despite the BCCI telling their players to not go to major competitions in the wake of the surge in the UK.
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Rishabh Pant has tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the build-up to the first Test against England. Apart from Pant, one assistant trainer has also tested positive for COVID-19. England is in the middle of the coronavirus surge in the delta variant. In the last 24 hours, there has been close to 50,000 cases. The number is only going to increase in the coming days.
The Indian cricket team is on a holiday at the moment. After the loss in the ICC World Test Championship final to New Zealand, the Indian team went to different places in order to unwind. There is no bio-bubble at the moment in the United Kingdom. The restrictions are all but gone.
Unfortunately, Pant and the United Kingdom just do not want to learn. Despite two waves of the coronavirus pandemic, nations and individuals just do not want to learn.
Pant was seen in the Euro 2020 championships attending a football match. Some cricketers went to Wimbledon. A fair majority of them avoided many public spots. Social media highlighted it and stories were made of the individuals enjoying. No masks and social distancing was enforced. But, missing in the entire print was THIS warning from BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
In a letter written to the Indian cricket team members, Jay Shah had warned players to “avoid” crowded places as the Covishield vaccine only provides protection and not full immunity against the virus. The Indian cricket team were administered the second dose of the vaccine in London earlier.
In a way, blaming Rishabh Pant and other players who attended crowded events like Wimbledon and Euro 2020 might not be right. In a country that had lifted restrictions and had put no lockdown in place, this was the instinctive thing to do. For every fan, the Euro and Wimbledon are prime attractions. Anyone will want to see it. In addition, players have been fed up of lockdowns and being in isolation for months. They would want to experience normalcy. Going out to events, being in restaurants and just having a good time are some of the things that everyone has been yearning for.
But, if we have to flip the coin, there is a certain level of discipline that comes with being a public figure. If one cannot live by that, then there is a big problem. Everyone knows the coronavirus situation in the world. There is a surge in many countries. The second wave in India was primarily because of many events that contributed to the super-spreading.
In India, when the coronavirus cases were down to 10,000, the decision to open up was being made too soon. Stadiums operated at 50 percent capacity, there were elections and there was the Kumbh mela. In two out of the three situations, there was no social distancing maintained. There was no discipline. The end result was a devastating second wave that saw over 400,000 cases a day in India from April to May.
The United Kingdom is in the same situation. One had the Euro tournament that had over 60 to 70,000 people in attendance. There were also cricket matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka against England that saw near capacity attendances. The ruckus in Wembley for Euro 2020 and all over England created potential coronavirus bombs. Plus, there is going to be a Grand Prix in Silverstone which has a capacity of 150,000.
The United Kingdom only needed to look at India as to how the situation spiraled out of control in the second wave. The delta variant is far more contagious. Many sections of the population in the UK might be taking comfort in the fact that hospitalization rates are low and the death rate is also at the low end. But, the situation in the last couple of weeks has not ruled out the possibility of a massive surge.
The coronavirus has demanded increased discipline and curbing of certain lifestyle changes in our life. While people may want to experience a good life, the coronavirus will strike back. Rishabh Pant should have shown extra discipline as he was a public figure. The fact that he chose not to listen to the BCCI despite being warned once again shows the convenient nature of the Indian psyche.
Yes, there are no restrictions in the country. But, one could have made a difference and followed exemplary discipline. The fact that this is convenient is highlighted in one particular instance in Australia. When Brisbane was in a lockdown to contain the coronavirus situation, everyone entering the state had to undergo a three-day hard quarantine. At that time, India chose to go a different path and said since they had already served quarantine in Sydney, there was no need for another quarantine in Brisbane.
This led to unsavoury remarks from the sports minister and led to a war of words. At that time, India did not want to do the quarantine and they got their way in a foreign country. Now, with the coronavirus surge, they were aided by a poor attitude from the UK and the fact that they chose to ignore the coronavirus situation.
If one does not learn, the coronavirus will strike back with a vengeance. If one ignores warnings, then their situation will be like what Pant and some of the Indian players are experiencing.
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