India in COVID
India entered phase of lockdown on March 24th, 2020 when the total number of cases was less than 606 with 10 deaths. The increase in number of cases was exponential high to 33,000 and 1075 deaths on April 30th; 182,143 / 5164 (May 31st); 566,840/16,893 (June 30th); and 1,192,915 / 28,732 (July 22nd). As on July 22nd, India ranks 3rd in total cumulative cases and 7th in the total number of deaths. On analysis the total number of cases per million, India ranks 104th (865/million) and stands 100thin total death per million (21/million). Though the total number seems to increase, majority of the cities, when there was an initial peak of cases has plateaued (1, 3).
The Indian Government left no stones unturned to be with the people during this global predicament. The phase of lockdown extended from 25th March 2020 to 31st May 2020. There was phased measure to “Unlock” starting from1st June 2020. During the period of lockdown people were ban to step out of their homes except for hospitals, pharmacies, banks, grocery and other essential services. During the 4th phase of lockdown, the Union Ministry of Health gave the power to the individual state government to delineate the districts into three different zones – Red (hot zone), Orange, and Green. These zones were categorised based on the total number of cases, cases per lakh population, doubling rate over a seven day period, case fatality rate, testing ratio and sample positivity rate. These zones will have a different set of restrictions for the citizens – maximum for the red and the least for the green.
All educational, training and research institution were suspended. There are steps being taken to integrate the private and public health care system. Few state governments have already undertaken certain private health care with the interest of the people. Separate Covid blocks are designated in public health sectors. Efforts are being taken to convert railway coaches to beds in need to dire emergency. Emergency military hospital has been established to handle COVID 19 patients during emergency. To handle the crisis, government has converted stadiums, large auditoriums, convention centers, colleges to “emergency care centres” to handle COVID-19 patients. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, and other health care professionals involved in the care of Covid-19 patients will get a special insurance cover of Rs. 50 lakh ($65000) during this period. India’s average number of bed/1000 person is less than one. Hence there have been efforts to increase the number during crisis. Numerous education awareness programs were organised by celebrities through radio, television and social media.