Our country has reached a new record in the daily numberof COVID-19 patients. Last day, 83,888 covid positive cases were reported. The sheer number of cases is proving that India is a total failure with regard to its health system in controlling the pandemic.
Last Sunday, India had reached the covid cases tally on a daily basis. July 17 saw the highest number of positive cases reported in the U.S.. On August 30, India surpassed that record. On that day alone, 78,761 people were found to be covid-positive. Within a few days the number of patients a day increased to about 5,000. India currently has the third highest number of covid deaths in the world.
India is one of the leading countries in the world in the number of covid patients and the economic downturn caused by the epidemic. During the April-June quarter, India experienced more severe economic downturns than any other country, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada,Germany, Japan and China. Only the US has recorded a higher economic downturn than India. Our country is in the second place in the recession.
Even in controlled areas, the number of covid patients is on the rise. On Wednesday, 2,509 positive cases were reported from Delhi. This is the highest daily number in two months in Delhi.
Covid-19 ‘second wave’ is happening in many countries around the world. In countries like New Zealand, lockdowns have been imposed in COVID-affected areas. At the same time, the situation in India is very different.
The ‘First Wave’ still continues in the country. Even in the US, which has been hit hardest by covid, the number of cases per day is declining while the number of patients in India is increasing each day.
The allegation that the current figures on the number of covid patients in India are far from the truth is also strong. India has the second lowest test rate among the 10 countries with the most severe virus attacks. Only 3,000 out of a lakh people are tested here.
There are already criticisms that the way India dealing with the pandemic is unscientific. The lock-down was introduced in India at a time when covid-positive cases were at an all-time low. The government had adopted the unscientific practice of imposing lockdown at a time when social spread of the disease was yet to happen, and easing controls when social spread is strong.
The government has been widely criticized for imposing lockdowns on millions of migrant workers without even giving them time to return home. The government is now easing lockdown controls, while setting a world record for the number of positive cases per day. The disease is spreading rapidly at a time when the central government has given permission to resume metro services and increase the number of people who can participate in public meetings.
Weeks of lockdown imposed at the most inappropriate time have affected the lives and economy of the people. The spread of the disease intensified as efforts were made to rectify the situation.
India has taken a different approach, topsy-turvy one, instead of adpoting a well-planned and strategic approach in curbing the pandemic as other countries did.
