Editor's Pick: Getting back into vigilant mode

The Hindu Newsletter - Newsletter - subject [The Hindu Logo]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( Sunday 07, March 2021 [alt_text]( Editor's Pick Getting back into vigilant mode [alt_text]( (The Editor's Pick is a new newsletter from The Hindu that provides a snapshot of the most important stories from today's edition of our newspaper, along with a note from our top editors on why we chose to give prominence to these stories.) The rising number of COVID-19 cases in India has crossed another worrying mark, with [over 18,000 cases being reported]( for the first time this year on Saturday. More than half of these cases are being reported from one State, Maharashtra. A primary reason assigned by the Centre for this spike, especially in Maharashtra, is "COVID-inappropriate" behaviour, with large gatherings and lack of discipline on quarantining and testing. There is a suggestion of an internal mutation of the virus that could be [causing the spike in cases]( along with a spread into new areas aided by lack of awareness in rural settings. In Kerala, another State that is seeing a high number of cases, experts say that the weekly average has been falling since January. The Kerala numbers are being seen as a delayed climbdown from the peak of the first wave rather than a second spike. Tamil Nadu meanwhile saw a rise in number of cases for the second day. Unlike the previous year when only social distancing norms and masking were available as methods of control, now vaccinations are available as a method to turn the tide. Speaking to The Hindu, virologist T. Jacob John pointed to the[need for targeted vaccination campaigns](to control the spread the disease. Other experts are highlighting the need for the contact tracing and surveillance systems that have become lax to pick up once gain. The specter of new mutations, the need to get a tired population back into vigilant mode, the need for the healthcare apparatus to gear up again, and the ramifications of rising numbers on other aspects of life, are what make this story important. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Who is the current President of Iraq? 1. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi 2. Adil Abdul-Mahdi 3. Fuad Masum 4. Barham Salih To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( The Big Story [Coronavirus | As COVID-19 cases spike, government report points to pandemic fatigue]( [alt_text]( From the Front Page [alt_text]( [Wary villagers relish peace as guns fall silent along LoC]( [alt_text]( [Remove PM’s photo from vaccine certificate: EC]( Profiles [alt_text]( [Min Aung Hlaing | The man behind the coup]( [alt_text]( [Alternative for Germany | The party can’t go on]( Literary Review [‘Ghalib: A Wilderness at my Door](step' Tabish Khair [‘Midnight’s Borders: A People’s]( History of Modern India' Sudipta Datta You are receiving this email because you are a user of [thehindu.com]( If you do not wish to receive any such emails, [unsubscribe here.](mailto:rm-0bfbtfg0bf2f90kaup33rtbysa8hkwt@newsalert.thehindu.com?subject=Unsubscribe&body=You will be unsubscribed from our mailing list.) To ensure you continue to receive emails from The Hindu in your inbox, please add newsletters.th@newsalert.thehindu.com to your contact. If you can't see the mailer, please [click here.]( Group Sites [The Hindu]( | [இந்து தமிழ் திசை]( | [Business Line]( | [BL on Campus]( | [Sportstar]( | [Frontline]( | [The Hindu Centre]( | [Images]( | [roofandfloor]( | [Classifieds]( Copyright @ 2021 ,THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. [About Us]( | [Contact Us]( | [Digital Subscription](