The Second Wave of COVID-19 and Beyond

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with long-standing systemic, functional, and health inequities put the rural communities at an increased risk. Sustainable long- and short-term measures are suggested to efficiently develop strategies to control the pandemic and strengthen the health system in rural India.

India was severely hit by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers of cases and fatalities both have shown a sharp rise, along with heightened livelihood challenges and uncertainties. According to the Government of India data, 34.7 million cases and 0.477 million deaths have been reported as of 17 December 2021. The new variant of the virus, omicron, is also spreading in India. As of 17 December, 101 cases were reported, from Maharashtra and Delhi (Government of India 2021). These figures are considered under-reported mainly because cases in rural areas are likely to be undetected, unreported, and untreated (Cohen 2021). The attention of the government, global community, and mass media is focused on metro cities and agglomerated urban areas, whereas the virus made a strong presence in rural areas especially after superspreader events such as election campaigns and religious gatherings.

COVID-19 Cases, Deaths, and Vaccination Status in Rural Areas