It is more than two weeks that India has been under lockdown. News channels and social media have incessantly churned out terrabytes of footage and features. The focus has been on figures, theories, doomsday scenarios, lockdowns and lockdown-breakers, heroism of health workers, hate stories, calls for solidarity and oodles of symbolism. My sense is that every effort is being made to psyche the nation into extension of the lockdown through fear-mongering. And this effort is succeeding – new hotspots being found, states proposing extensions of lockdown and very little indication, if any, about the adequacy of our ramped up health infrastructure to handle a wider spread of the virus. More importantly, there is no concrete normalisation plan being spoken of, even if there is thought in that direction. The lockdown period terminates at the midnight of 14/15 April. Final consultations with the states will possibly happen on 11 April. Whatever the outcome of these consultations, one expects a public statement from the Government not before 12 or 13 April. As I said, there is no indication of a normalisation plan. Without such a plan, and a detailed one at that, any lift of lockdown will result in utter chaos. The conclusion is clear – prepare to stay indoors for some more time to come. There will be no light at the end of the tunnel till a Normalisation Plan is made public.
It has been said by many that the cure may be more devastating than the virus if we just go on extending the lockdown. Reducing the number of deaths due to COVID versus enhancing the number of deaths due to hunger, malnutrition and suicides may need to be balanced. Videoconferencing from air-conditioned spaces will not give the decision-makers a feel of the ground. The enormity of the inconvenience and deprivation of livelihood does not seem to be getting the attention it deserves. Daily wage earners will get desperate by the day. Private enterprises will start slashing pay and handing out pink slips. Tens of thousands of families have been separated in distant places owing to the lockdown. Thousands of students are waiting out time at their hostels to return to their homes. Domestic violence cases have reportedly shown a significant spike. Goods are stranded across national highways. The stories of human miseries are endless. I hope it does not become a case of Rome burning as Nero plays the fiddle. Life has to get back on the rails – and soon. If there is an extension of lockdown, it must not be for too long and the announcement must come with an assurance of a lockdown lift.
We are also obsessed with pandemic figures. How about being obsessed with providing medicines and trying to find a cure? How about telling the people how we fare in this department? This brings me to the point of the now famous drug hydroxychloroquine. I have read enough newspapers and seen enough news channels in my life to discern half-truths. The view that we have enough stocks of the drug is not convincing at all. The drug is being prescribed as a prophylaxis for health workers who are exposed to high viral loads. We are also magnanimously exporting the drug to the USA and other countries. The drug is not available over the counter and needs prescription – a good way to restrict general access. Some literature suggests that the drug has not been proven through full clinical trials and hence not recommended for general use. Then why is it in such great demand? The fact that it can be used as a prophylaxis by health workers also means it can be used for the same purpose by all of us. I suspect that we just do not have enough of it for general use within the country. But we do have enough for export. Beats me completely. I sincerely hope that the first country developing a vaccine displays a similar eagerness to share it with us.
The questions that therefore need to be answered in the next public statement by the Government are: –
- From what date is the lockdown going to be lifted? (Not how long more we will remain in lockdown).
- What is the graded normalisation plan? (We have to live with the virus).
- Why cannot hydroxychloroquine be made available over the counter with a conservative dosage that can provide a degree of protection to the ordinary citizen? (Or will we never reach there?
Legitimate questions that need honest answers…
11 Apr 20
How can u fight the virus physically and quietly by hoping agnst hope that u wl catch everyone with it in a nation of 130 crores..
Even if we are locked up for two more months u wudnt find out those in hiding in such a huge nation..and one of them can send 2000 to hospital..we have seen how irresponsible can a few people be who have been instrumental in doubling the rate of attack..
Lockdwn hs definitely worked in its space and time but is ineffective for extended periods without normal situations and will create roadblocks in viral reasearch and vaccine manufacturing…lckdwn hs bn able to create some sensibilities by helping break a chain and inculcating good healthy behaviour..but if it has not bn able to create awareness about safety practices it wl not be able to do so even in a further lockdown of 6 months..
On the contrary we can ask scientists to get to work overtime to create vaccines and remedies in an environment which is conducive to work and research while making situations normal in a phased manner to make the environment proper for work…ofcourse the scientists cant remain an island with manufacturing and public conveniences shut and in limbo…so lets get bck to work slowly but steadily with distancing and other clean habits…the virus looks uncontrollable..evn if there are more cases let us fight it clinically and scientifically which should be easier with time..more infections possibly are inversely proportional to mortality in a virus and sooner than later even if 50% of the world is infected getting sorted wouldnt be very difficult..as for mortality we wudnt be able to avoid that for patients with serious ailments and compromises like any other viral or other infections…
I feel that after an year like any other light fever patients with seasonal flu, Covid patients with similar symptoms would come out to work and get cured in due course on their own like other flu patients..
By then hopefully we would hv vaccines and medicines to deal with it like other flu which too turn out serious at times for otherwise compromised patients..
Very pertinent questions.
Hopefully the concerned top brass
In the Govts n the med experts
Would be working swiftly to address
These issues. Lets see how they
Tread the — devil n the deep sea
Path. Let’s keep our fingers crossed n hope for the best.
Pertinent questions. I think the need of the hour is decentralised lockdown. Let states decide the extent of lockdown catering to the hot spots and high infected regions. Others with low incident reports could be eased, that will atleast ensure that poor everywhere need not suffer.
This will allow the government’s measures also to be more concentrated and targeted in the hit spots. Currently the economic stimulus is being poured into a bottomless cauldron.
A recovery plan is under preparation. Karnataka has already published it’s plan. Other states should take that as a model and tweak it to their specific situation.
In so far as lifting is concerned, the figures coming daily is going up at a huge rate. Not an easy task to take a bold decision. At the other end of the spectrum I will reserve my opinion on Mr Trump. At present his decision not to go for a lockdown appears suicidal, but tome will tell!
Very aptly put. Media ( digital, print and social) has hijacked the whole issue, emotions, sense, theories ( proven/unproven) in just hyping the worries in common mind. That sells so they sell and earn TRP. Most of them are not caring about economics present and after. Media is earning beautifully. It is easy to get a press pass than to for taking a patient to hospital. Our media should be banned till locked down. Only govt Press bulletin through DD should come.
All forgot about those poor workers stranded here and there with small children. No one covers them now as poor have no voice.
I visited one such shelters in my area with some like minded people with relief material with govt permission. So feel so sad hearing their concerns/ worries / problems.
Your questions are so well defined but no one will answer them. Politics is above national interest it seems.
The questions are relevant and valid fore overcoming and eventual exit from this quagmire. More importantly, a ‘cost benefit analysis’ if I can call it so, or the point of inflection, where the cost of lives becomes cheaper that cost of livelihood needs to be defined. That will determine when the lockdown can be lifted
The economic stimulus packages being announced as also assistance to the unorganised sector welcome and a necessary step. However is it enough is a discussion that is also finding space in the media. I heard an argument that the packages announced amounts to only 1.5% of the GDP and should be about 10 %. But the moot point remains as how much would the GDP be this year?? Maybe 1.5 % equals 10 % of the GDP to be.
Yes sir there is need to focus on the right areas but there will always be diversions. And those of us in our respective areas must focus on what needs ro be done notwithstanding the diversions. From where I am am.seeing us do fairly well, maybe I am the eternal optimist. We will overcome.
Kerala Govt has submitted a post lockdown plan on how to open up in phases based on cases in each area, district etc also what can be opened and when . It is good but the State Govt is awaiting the Central Govt decision for every part of India is entwined.
Life will find a way
Regardless
Lockdown..can t last long !
Future is Bright
But..right now..we need to fight
( maintain physical distance )