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This article notes that opposition political parties are trying to leverage the new wave of cases to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but that just seems li

This article notes that opposition political parties are trying to leverage the new wave of cases to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but that just seems like an opportunist political tactic. Reading this article and others, this situation sounds like bad luck and tough circumstances more than anything else. Some of the approaches being taken there seem far more restrictive than anything I've seen in the US: > For example, apartment buildings where people test positive for the coronavirus have been sealed off, with no one allowed to enter or exit. Police patrol their perimeter. In India's two biggest cities, Mumbai and Delhi, local lockdowns are already in place. Only essential travel is allowed, with a permit. Everyone except for front-line workers have been told to work from home. Residents aren't allowed to go for a stroll or jog, or they'll be fined. It seems that Modi previously had announced a charitable policy of exporting half of India's vaccine doses to other countries that need it. One article (https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/indias-vaccine-complacency-costs-at-home-globally-7273501/ https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/indias-vaccine-com...) notes that over 60 million doses have been exported, and 52 million were administered to Indians. Another article (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/jugglebandhi/vexing-diplomacy-by-exporting-anti-virus-vaccines-to-90-countries-india-wins-bouquets-abroad-and-brickbats-at-home-f0-9f-98-8a/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/jugglebandhi/vexin...) notes that India even donated vaccines at no charge to some countries. I'm sure Modi is facing immense pressure to focus on Indians first, and some articles note that they've temporarily paused exports, but their export approach hardly seems like it deserves blame as much as applause. India is the world's largest vaccine producer, and while they pursue a charitable strategy, they're themselves facing export constraints from countries like the US. India's Serum Institute (world's largest vaccine manufacturer) has asked Joe Biden to relax export constraints for vaccine components (https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-global-trade-india-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-50f18d8be1711d11744db710cfbb4c92 https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-global-trade-india-coro...). While many are using this moment to find a way to critique India's handling of the virus, it makes me feel bad as an American to see others attempt to be generous leaders for the world while we do the opposite. I don't think anyone is "evil" for putting their nation first - but putting COVID to rest requires we eradicate it worldwide.

rjzzleep 6y ago
All countries that did well during the pandemic did a few steps: - immediately recognize the risk and call on domestic producers to increase mask production - freely, easily and regularly distribute masks to everyone, either for free or subsidize - rigorous regulation (not necessarily lockdown) of mask usage in places with either centralized(china) or decentralized(taiwan) contract tracing in every building. - a leadership that publicized and communicated the risks regularly - a leadership that led by example by wearing masks themselves - and a population that had some sort of sense of unity(common enemy) ALL countries that downplayed the pandemic ended up with second or third waves. I don't understand why you think it's bad luck.
- euthuxnetux 6y ago
  I hate to be that guy, but these are all measurable claims and it would benefit the discussion here if you provided references.
  - natenthe 6y ago
    100% agreed. However, these anecdotal tales have no science and research behind them so references cannot be produced.
- throwawaysea 6y ago
  I think "did well" is a spectrum. Some countries chose to enact very authoritarian lockdowns, and achieved success that way. Others balanced between freedoms and restrictions. Still others have to work within the bounds of their political system - what their laws permit and don't permit. From some quick web searches, it seems to me that India did many of the things you mentioned. I'm not sure if they did all of them, or to what extent they did each one - understanding that precisely is probably not possible without being involved in those particular actions. But it doesn't seem to me like they did nothing. > ALL countries that downplayed the pandemic ended up with second or third waves. Do you think India downplayed the pandemic? I don't get the sense given that they did building by building lockdowns and have police patrols ushering people back into their homes. We should keep in mind that each country is different - they have different population sizes, city densities, wealth levels, infrastructure quality, Internet access, cultural priorities, and so on. China is not India - it has an authoritarian governmental system. Taiwan is not India - it's small and rich and is an island. I'm not sure these comparisons are fair.

rjzzleep 6y ago

All countries that did well during the pandemic did a few steps: - immediately recognize the risk and call on domestic producers to increase mask production - freely, easily and regularly distribute masks to everyone, either for free or subsidize - rigorous regulation (not necessarily lockdown) of mask usage in places with either centralized(china) or decentralized(taiwan) contract tracing in every building. - a leadership that publicized and communicated the risks regularly - a leadership that led by example by wearing masks themselves - and a population that had some sort of sense of unity(common enemy) ALL countries that downplayed the pandemic ended up with second or third waves. I don't understand why you think it's bad luck.

euthuxnetux 6y ago
I hate to be that guy, but these are all measurable claims and it would benefit the discussion here if you provided references.
- natenthe 6y ago
  100% agreed. However, these anecdotal tales have no science and research behind them so references cannot be produced.
throwawaysea 6y ago
I think "did well" is a spectrum. Some countries chose to enact very authoritarian lockdowns, and achieved success that way. Others balanced between freedoms and restrictions. Still others have to work within the bounds of their political system - what their laws permit and don't permit. From some quick web searches, it seems to me that India did many of the things you mentioned. I'm not sure if they did all of them, or to what extent they did each one - understanding that precisely is probably not possible without being involved in those particular actions. But it doesn't seem to me like they did nothing. > ALL countries that downplayed the pandemic ended up with second or third waves. Do you think India downplayed the pandemic? I don't get the sense given that they did building by building lockdowns and have police patrols ushering people back into their homes. We should keep in mind that each country is different - they have different population sizes, city densities, wealth levels, infrastructure quality, Internet access, cultural priorities, and so on. China is not India - it has an authoritarian governmental system. Taiwan is not India - it's small and rich and is an island. I'm not sure these comparisons are fair.