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As an Indian, here's a more cautious perspective: 1. I am going with the assumption that community transmission might have started at some location; but with t
by surds 7y ago
As an Indian, here's a more cautious perspective:
1. I am going with the assumption that community transmission might have started at some location; but with that assumption this 21-day lockdown becomes an imperative and excellent step.
2. Will people obey the lockdown? (This is not a curfew, as essential services would be open.) Many people, sadly, would not. That is where the sometimes-criticized high-handed approach of police and other agencies would be useful.
3. I am optimistic about this period. At the end of it, if nothing else, we would have more data points to make thoughtful decisions about how to proceed and what other measures need to be taken.
4. Testing is being ramped up, and I hope it is an exponential ramp-up. Local test kits are also approved and beginning production today.
As a nation with 4X the population of the USA, and 1/3rd the area, the population density in India and particularly in the urban areas is off the charts. Hence, the approach suggested in some other countries, like carrying on with walks, exercises and other outdoor activities while practicing 'social distancing', gets much more difficult.
It is nearly impossible to be outdoors in urban areas and not have people nearby. As such, measures have to be very strict. I imagine the situation was similar in Wuhan in China, and they had to impose a complete lockdown as well.
- billfruit 7y agoI am more worried that the lockdown/curfew will be too stringent, and cause essential services to be shutdown. Many grocery shops etc are closed, as of now, there is no compulsion on them to remain open. Ideally, it would have been better naming it a partial-lockdown and assure the population that essential services shall be provided for without interruption.
- surds 7y agoWith my privileged position in having the freedom to sit at home and work without interruptions, I can only try to be empathetic and imagine the hardships hundreds of millions of people will face. There is no compulsion that I know of, but most of these businesses have associations and lobbies that will be dealing with the government and trying to keep things open. I have no doubt there will be disruptions all over the country. There are no precedents of such situations, nor would I expect any kind of Standard Operating Procedures to be in place. It's gonna be chaotic - but hopefully not deadly. And that is the important thing. Last few days, I have been thinking how disastrous a widespread infection would be in India. I shudder thinking about the numbers if this goes out of hand. A small percentage of 1.4 billion is a huge number. To avoid that, frankly, I'd accept temporary draconian measures. I have been preaching "Stay at home" to everyone in my circles who would listen. Hope you do the same. :pray:
- eternalban 7y agoTake comfort that various organizations have been giving these situations a great deal of thought and the outcome gamed for optimal results, per an ideological point of view. The military will deliver the food to you. Only thing you need to ask yourself as an Indian is the degree of integrity, honesty, and uprightness of your ruling class. [edit: and not to forget, + authoritarian tendencies]
- sateesh 7y agoWhile I agree that this might have been a necessary step, I am skeptical about the optimism part in your response. There are millions of people (daily wage labourers, vegetable and fruit vendors, petty shop owners etc.) in India who just have enough earnings to survive for a day or two and there are quite a sizeable number who barely earn enough to feed and clothe themselves. I don't know how they are going to survive the lockdown period. The government has (or probably will) announce some remedial measures (like distributing subsidised food grains etc.) but given the corruption I am unsure all of the subsidy benefits will be well used. (Cases like flood/drought relief being misused is not unheard of). Add to it the fact that it is the whole country that is affected (unlike in past cases where a state was flooded and relief poured in from other parts of the country), and due to disastrous nature of this epidemic (need to keep the social distance) running any relief efforts in itself presents a challenge. I just pray, and hope.
- billfruit 7y agoSome sectors like sea fisheries have totally shutdown, how the millions of people working in them will get wages, how they will be able to obtain essentials etc are serious questions. Also no suspension of EMIs, loan repayments, rent collections etc announced till now. More questions remain.
- surds 7y agoMany states and the central government is making provisions to do direct-to-account money transfer to people. This is just one of the measures being taken up considering the poorer strata of the society. The money being distributed might not be enough, but should help families through the lockdown. Better than losing the sole earning member of the family to an avoidable disease. :(
- manojlds 7y agoIndia in lockdown feels like some European town in peak hours.
- teatree 7y agoThere was so much greenery on Google Maps, it felt like nature :P