India’s approach to the virus The Statesman 21 Apr 2020
https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2641837/Kolkata-The-Statesman/21TH-APRIL-2020#page/7/2
India’s approach to the virus 21 Apr 2020
Coronavirus has impacted human life in a manner unseen for a century. Huge numbers of infected have shaken even advanced health care systems. A few nations, which acted timely, have been able to control its spread. This despite inaccurate inputs and data from China, where it originated. Current research indicates that had China shared correct data even a week prior, global casualty figures could have dropped by two-thirds.
The virus has impacted economies and led to nations battling the virus in isolation. No country employed any successful strategy, as a similar virus had never hit the globe in recent times. This is compounded by the fact that a vaccine to negate its spread has yet to be developed.
Many western nations claim to have reached the peak when figures of infected or loss of lives begin to decline. Is this a correct assessment? Singapore adopted it and the re-emergence of the virus indicates that it was possibly wrong. Taiwan and Hong Kong, countries located closest to China, which should have been heavily affected, acted in time and contained impact.
These two nations adopted a near similar strategy including medical screening of passengers from China from early January, suspending visas, barring visitors from China, isolating those with history of visit there and imposing strict fines for quarantine violations. In addition, use of masks and social distancing were implemented. These were backed with aggressive testing. Basically, these were containment strategies. Currently, there is no proactive strategy aimed at eradicating the virus.
In countries where the virus spread rapidly, adopting similar measures were delayed. In Europe, social distancing is not an expected norm and hence implementing it is difficult. US and Europe remained confused on whether to continue economic activities or lock down to protect lives. Delayed decisions by Trump, led to the US having maximum casualties. Ultimately all nations adopted similar containment strategies.
Many European nations believing that they have flattened the curve are considering opening their economies. Similar words continue echoing from Trump. Nations which adopted a containment strategy from the outset are reopening their economy in a phased manner.
The Indian government began monitoring the situation in China well in advance. It ignored advice being rendered by the WHO in favour of its own Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which was brought into the picture in time and currently with the WHO facing flak, the Indian decision proved correct. India acted in the first week of February and began screening those coming from abroad. It commenced this in Kerala and subsequently across all international airports.
On 19 Mar, the PM addressed the nation and imposed a ‘Janta Curfew’ on 22 Mar, post which was ordering a three-week lockdown from 25 Mar. It has now been extended to 03 May. While cases continue to rise, however figures have not yet risen to a level to cause national panic. India reached 10,000 cases in 78 days as compared to 54-58 days in Europe and US. South Korea reached the same milestone in 71 days.
The Indian strategy was simplistically containing, slowing and delaying the spread so that when it peaks, the nation possesses resources to battle it.
India took steps beyond those adopted by Taiwan and Hong Kong due to domestic compulsions, which include a rudimentary health care system, large undisciplined population and lacking medical resources to handle major emergencies. A large mass of Indian population in cities live in crowded shanties where if the virus is not controlled, it can spread rapidly making it a major challenge. Further the Indian economy had already taken a beating and could not be locked for a prolonged period.
India had to adopt additional measures to enable the country to build its resources to combat the virus in case the spread reached alarming proportions. These measures included identifying and sealing hot spots forcefully, activating armed forces and railways to establish isolation and quarantine centres across the country, enhance testing facilities and bringing in the private hospitals into the battle against the virus. India also restricted testing to suspect cases and hotspots.
The introduction of the Aarogya Setu App created by the National Informatics Centre was another important initiative. The app is designed to track Coronavirus cases in vicinity and helps in fighting the virus on an individual level. Such has been its acceptance that it has witnessed over 50 million downloads in just 13 days, setting a global record.
These actions gave the government time to produce and order import of medical protective gear, testing kits and ventilators which would be essential as cases peak. Having been able to control the spread, India then began reaching out regionally and globally, bringing nations together in battling the virus. It also provided nations with medical supplies and assistance as needed. Indian actions have been applauded globally.
At the end of three weeks of lockdown, India’s active cases stood above the 10,000 mark and is currently above 16,000. This despite few major incidents which led to a spike in figures including carelessness of few religious congregations and mass movement of migrant workers from metros to hometowns. Each of them added to challenges of state and central governments, many of whom were able to contain them.
Indian society, displaying largesse, reached out and began distributing food and rations to those who in need.
Globally, India is under watch. If its strategy succeeds, it would be amongst the best placed to kickstart its economy, an action it has slowly commenced. Hence, it cannot afford to lose.
The next few weeks are critical for us. For this, cooperation from the local public along with the strong arm of law enforcement agencies to control those violating government guidelines, preventing medical authorities from conducting medical checks and instigating innocents to indulge in mass activities, is essential. State governments and the centre must forget their different ideologies and work together to control the spread and restore normalcy. Finally, to ensure success, we citizens must do our share of implementing government directives.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army