Tighten measures

The situation in Mumbai city is deteriorating in terms of daily cases. After a lull, in the month, the city has been garnering 4,000 to 6,500 cases daily. Night curfew has now been imposed in the city. (“Night curfew in India’s Maharashtra state after record coronavirus spike”, Mar.28, Gulf Today).

Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, has also been garnering 20,000 to 35,000 cases daily. The spurt is due to some degree of laxity after the lockdowns were eased. Local trains were started, leading to over-crowding. Masking and social distancing were neglected. So, Indian cases which were 100,000 last year and had declined to 15,000 early 2020, are now clocking around 50,000 per day. This spurt is also due to new variants. This aspect needs to be researched rigorously, so that preventive action can be taken.

It is also time for India to ban all public celebrations for about a year. Festivals lead to large gatherings and neglect of COVID-19 protocols. At the current rate of vaccinations, it will take at least two to three years, to complete vaccinations in India. So, it would be wise to ban all public celebrations, till the disease is controlled.

A key reason for the resurgence of the disease in many parts of India, there has been the slow pace of vaccinations.  In about two months, India has inoculated just about four per cent of its population. Israel, Australia New Zealand have been proactive on vaccinations and quarantines. They are lifting curbs. India is re-imposing them.

The vaccination programme in India, should have been carried out on a war-footing, with vaccination vans and motorcycle units visiting the villages and slums. We seem to have let down the people of India in the vaccination drive.

Rajendra Aneja
Mumbai, India