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National response to Covid-19 pandemic: India scores 100, according to Oxford study

4 min read

R Chandra Prakash

Mysuru: Oxford University has released a report on its assessment of how the countries of the world have acted against Covid-19 pandemic. It has marked its assessment on a scale of 100. It is very heartening to see that this report ranks India as the top performer. As per this report India scores a full 100 [out of 100]. In comparison the United States could only score 66.7 per cent and ranked second in its list. Other countries followed below that ranking.

R Chandra Prakash

And this can be observed from the overall national response to this mysterious virus. It started making news from Wuhan, China only from November 2019 [ hence the tag Covid-19], and as the nature of information coming out of China was so vague and little that the countries of the world could not properly gauge the extent of its diabolic nature. This virus was considered to be more akin to Sars or Nipah and it was assumed that it could be similarly managed. However, only when Italy and Spain started showing up very frightening toll which was followed by toll in New York and other parts of USA that the real danger from this virus could be gauged.

For India it was a wait and watch situation as there was far more lesser information available. But from January 2020 end attention started to be given to all the passengers coming by air from different countries to various airports of India. They were screened for the symptoms like fever, cough, difficulty in breathing etc., and those who were found to be having any of these symptoms were home quarantined for 14 days with a seal on their forehand. This was to be followed by attempt to track secondary infections and such persons were also quarantined. But by February second and third week the real danger from Covid-19 was being realized by the national authorities. Steps were  being contemplated to make sure that this does not become a community-wide epidemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed and sensitized the nation as early as March 19, 2020. He requested that in appreciation of the extraordinary services of Doctors, Nurses, Para Medical Staff as also Police the citizens should come up to their balconies / entrance of the house and clap for full five minutes on Sunday the March 22 at 5 PM. And what happened on March 22 was simply unprecedented – the entire nation stood up as one in discharging its duty.

As the situation was gradually turning more serious, the national government took decision that the nation should go on a total lockdown if the pandemic were to be contained. And the Prime Minister was again addressing the nation on March 24, wherein he shared his concerns regarding changing situation. He announced an unprecedented national lockdown of 21 days starting from the midnight of March 24  i.e. early morning of March 25. A stunned country, which only knew of Curfew, section 144 etc., was getting a lesson on strict lockdown, and for 21days!! All transportation systems were withdrawn – Air services, train services, city bus services, Metro services, and traffic of every type of private vehicle was banned. Shops, Eateries, and Markets were closed. People found themselves suddenly locked up. There was some initial hiccups. There were pictures of thousands of migrant labour in several metro cities marching out and trying to walk to their long distance villages/towns. In some places citizens who could not understand either the seriousness of the pandemic or strictness of the lockdown did cause some concerns. But soon things were under full control. essential services were allowed to be functioning.

By April 13 as the country was very eagerly awaiting the lifting of lockdown a decision was taken to extend the period of lock down!! And on April 14 Prime Minister was once again on television to announce lockdown extension from April 15 till May 3.

As we complete 29 days of total lockdown, we as a nation can feel proud that we have confronted the dangerous Covid-19 pandemic. Our overall infection is still less than 20,000 and active infection is around 15,000. Death is around 600. We have contained the virus so far very well in comparison with other countries and the world average. Our Doctors, Nurses, Para Medical Staff, Police, Asha workers and all the government agencies have contributed to this achievement. Exception apart, the political differences in various states have not come in the way of fighting this pandemic.

This is for the first time that the nation is facing a situation unprecedented in the recent history. In the past nation has faced war situations. But as a nation we are confronting a pandemic of this mysterious and highly dangerous nature for the first time. And, we have learnt a few lessons in facing a national challenge.

– Team Mysoorunews

Mysooru News

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