COVID-19 India Story – Creating Fear Never Seen Before

CoronaVirus Pandemic in India marked its very first case appearance on 30 January 2020 (Ref: Wikipedia) and for a country with such a large population, the entry of this virus’ strain in the country itself could have pressed more panic buttons but slowly and gradually it spread in different states across India, even though tough measures were taken by the Government towards screening and isolating the suspect cases at airports. We would like to look deep into this matter, where things went wrong and what caused this to spread, may be exponentially spread across India? Even after the WHO’s warning was issued and it was declared it as a PANDEMIC.

India could face an epidemic worse than Iran or Italy’s, according to T. Jacob John, former head of the Indian Council for Medical Research’s Centre for Advanced Research in Virology, with the virus spreading to as much as 10% of the population — some 130 million people. John worries the lockdown came too late.

Along with the lockdown, India has also acted to curb inbound travelers from overseas. Should these measures fail to halt the virus’ spread, though, epidemiologists say the numbers could be staggering. A University of Michigan-run study predicts the country could have 915,000 coronavirus infections by mid-May, more than the case load for the whole world right now.

The country had tested just 35,000 people for coronavirus as of Sunday, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research, a minuscule portion given its population size. That’s despite 113 local government laboratories and as many as 47 private labs now authorized to process tests.

Doctors say it is only a matter of time before Covid sweeps India
With its densely packed cities and under-funded medical system, India has little margin for error

Here I’d prefer to put the whole story into 3 Headings

Firstly, Logic Works, Magic Doesn’t: With the outbreak of CoronaVirus and its possible entry into India, Government, its agencies, its institutions and even by and large public was too much optimistic about the danger and not going with the “Logics”, some myths such as It will not withstand India’s Climate, It is affecting China but will not affect India or Indian’s are already immune to such viruses – Call them rumors, illogical explanations or whatever, there was not the seriousness and awareness in the country to tackle this kind of danger. It is evident from the fact that while the cases were slowly penetrating and spreading in Kerala, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, people were too optimistic and India was preparing for Holi and social celebrations, rather preparing itself from this unforeseen coming danger. Awareness of CoronaVirus was just based on myths and during that period while Government was slightly focusing on Airport Screening of passengers coming from China and isolating them, there was almost no awareness at public level and they were in their own myths with funny jokes, memes, and songs taking rounds on social media.

Secondly, a Known Devil is better than an Unknown one and to India, this was totally an unknown unpredictable devil for which the country was not at all prepared. Small steps were taken at Central Government as mentioned in the previous heading, fighting this CoronaVirus threat was a battle where the country had to prepare it in front footing to stop its mass spread and handle a large population to make them understand this as a real threat and simultaneously not raise panic. Our Police Department, Media Reporters, Sanitation workers also didn’t have a slightest clue of handling the situation. While the Government was actually focusing on controlling  airports through screening, several hypotheses, myths, rumors, memes and its treatments related claims started floating and circulating through whatsapp and social media. Actually everyone got something to talk on which other people were unsure of, and then the whole set of soft warnings or cautions raised by the government were taken up lightly and without any form of graveness. We could relate it with the fact that the most critical element to stop the spread of this Virus is Social Distancing, one has to maintain at least 1 metre distance(ideally more than that) to actually avoid coming into accidental contact with career of the CoronaVirus, the term Social Distancing and the set of precautions were not clear to public until Janta curfew was announced.

First instance of sternness towards it was seen in public and at the Government level as well to handle this epidemic was on 22 March 2020, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the public for Janta Curfew. Although it was termed as Janta Curfew, By the People and For the People, it was the trail form of lock-down and immediately after it without losing further any time Government imposed 21 days lockdown. So the step which the Government must have taken at least 15 days back, it could firmly take that decision after 22nd March, reasons best known to the Government for this delay. But by the time Lockdown was implemented, much of damage was already made and what we could see today as on 30th March, we are seeing the results and cases already reaching worrying figures, which were actually contaminated much before the lock-down period taking in consideration the Incubation Period of Virus to be few days upto 14 days. So whether the Lockdown decision was much delayed to cease the corona threat now spreading in India or the decision by Government although late but at least could control it with its tough implementation. All countries which failed to control it in its initial phase have seen a number of cases multiplying at an exponential speed, and then the situation becomes out of control to handle for the authorities. India in spite of the possibility of making use of experience from others, made the same mistake and now next few steps are well known to authorities and researchers, unless some magic happens.

India’s Actions to Prevent COVID-19
Chronology (March)

March 13, 2020 – Ministry of Health says “Coronavirus is not a Health Emergency
March 19, 2020 – PM Modi announces Janta Curfew on March 22, calls for public display of applause and felicitation of health workers and others in the frontline battling the coronavirus pandemic. Tirupati closed. PM gives three days notice for one-day curfew.
March 22, 2020 – Janta curfew observed and flagrantly violated later in the day. People throng streets in hundreds of thousands across the country applauding the health workers as per the request and desire of the PM

March 23, 2020 – BJP government in Madhya Pradesh sworn in. Massive street celebrations organized and reported
March 24, 2020 – PM Modi announces countrywide lockdown, gives four hours notice to shut down an entire country of 135 crore people

Will Write Complete Article and Publish Soon…. Its 3rd Part. Meanwhile Suggestions / Comments or any Inputs kindly share on ashugaur@gmail.com