Prioritise healthcare

The cities of Mumbai (55,000 plus) and Delhi (34,000 plus) have the highest number of COVID-19 cases in India (“India reports nearly 10,000 new virus cases in 24 hours,” June 10, Gulf Today).

They are short of ICU beds, ventilators and medical staff. It is a very perturbing situation. The health system is under desperate pressure, with too many sad stories. It is never too late. India should commence building more hospitals in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, etc., on an emergency basis. COVID-19 may stay for 12 to 18 months, till the vaccine is discovered; so the medical infrastructure may be needed and will always be useful, post the pandemic also.

India has had to relax the lockdown, to kick-start economic activities. This could have led to an increase in the number of cases. Millions of migrants have also returned from the towns to the villages. In some states, there has been a spike in the number of cases in rural areas. Between 70 to 90 per cent of the new cases in states like Bihar and Jharkhand, have been amongst migrants, returning to the villages in the last few weeks.

Indians need to exercise maximum precautions now, it terms of social distancing, etc. The dangers are much more now, when economic activity has been permitted. Self-discipline is the key. If the COVID-19 cases keep spiralling, we will have lockouts re-imposed in many cities and hotspots, which are of great inconvenience and will bring economic activity to a halt again. We are indeed living through troubled times.

Rajendra Aneja — Mumbai, India