MillenniumPost
Editorial

Lockdown and beyond

As the tenth day of the national lockdown dawns upon us, it is important to take note of the developments so far in order to draw up future actions, both personal and governmental. Cases rose, as was expected, but to levels where optimism sits well on the horizon. On March 17, India had around 140 cases and on April 2, the total tally neared 2,000; with around 150 cured and 50 casualties. The inevitable crisis of internal migrants — largely part of the unorganised sector — erupted, raising apprehensions of the infection reaching rural India. The Tablighi Jamaat incident unexpectedly spurred the tally, pushing all state administrations into overdrive as they utilise the lockdown to effectively trace all attendees. The Union government, while regularly updating the situation with respect to the pandemic, took note of developments even as multiple issues rose in terms of fund crisis amidst states, equipment shortage amidst health workers and the lockdown violators necessitating police action. The fact that India rose to the occasion and locked down the entire nation was a massive administrative call given the economic and social fallouts it had to face thereafter. Yet, the step bought us a fair share of time to assess the situation, draw parallels with the world and shape strategies to be implemented in this battle against the pandemic. Part of those strategies was the economic relief package amounting to Rs 1.7 lakh crore, a countrywide designation of dedicated hospitals for treatment of those infected, an update of available inventory, a dynamic strategy of testing patients, procurement of PPEs and other equipment such as ventilators from China, PM-CARES and the creation of quarantine and isolation centres most notably of those by the Railways setting up makeshift beds in train coaches to house as high as 80,000 patients. While the science and research wings, both private and public, race to develop cheap testing kits and study the virus strain for better epidemiology, the administration has a huge task to mobilise the police and ensure strict adherence of lockdown. That looks like a snapshot of what happened but the real question even as cases and issues keep on rising is what is India's plan of action post-lockdown?

Globally, the picture has been rather grim, to begin with. While countries like Germany, South Korea and even Iran showed tremendous fighting spirit to control the pandemic and flatten the transmission curve, there were others like Italy, Spain, UK and US which fell on their knees. The global count of infections will undoubtedly breach the million-mark, posting at least 50,000 deaths. In such dire circumstances, the plan for a better Summer has to come from within. A uniquely Indian plan of action has to be carved out to deal with the crisis, even as the concerted global effort would be pursued to mitigate the pandemic. For a long time, popular opinion of testing more has tussled with the government strategy of testing a third of its capacity. The next seven days will be crucial to take note of the tally as well as of those cured. While the Railways and Airlines have begun accepting bookings for April 15 onwards, it must be asked whether mitigation would be as sound as to allow for a complete resume of business following the expiry of the nation lockdown. Lockdown prevented an initial spurt of cases; we have around 2,000 cases against what could easily have been in millions. But where is the assurance that it would not be the case post-lockdown? Unless we observe least or no new cases in the final leg of the lockdown, the confidence to allow people to resume their lives might not come at all. The Cabinet aided with experts and advisors must draw out multiple contingency plans for what might be the status on April 14 when the Prime Minister addresses the nation. A further lockdown has been discarded by the Cabinet secretary but with the exponential rise in cases, what would be the alternative?




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