Pune: Lockdown as strategy has a limited use, say experts

PUNE: The efficacy of imposing a 10-day lockdown in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad is back in focus.
Citizens and experts have said that many countries witnessing a resurgence of Covid-19 cases are avoiding restrictions as it has a limited impact on the spread of the virus.

Japan recently reported as many cases as it had during its Covid-19 peak in April. Authorities said they would not impose a fresh emergency or lockdown and expected people to follow the norms of wearing a mask and maintaining social distance.
The US, which remains the worst Covid-19 hit country, reported 64,771 cases and 991 deaths in just one day on July 9.
However, individual states have begun relaxing the restrictions among growing unrest over mandatory use of masks.
Health experts said the lockdown would at best curb the case multiplication but is not a solution to the problem.
“Lockdown would at best be able to reduce the spread of the disease. During the lockdown period, it is anticipated that apart from the high-risk close contacts of the patient, the virus would not spread to others and remain restricted. It gives a breather to the health, administration machinery. Thereafter, the cases would be new and have to be controlled through other measures,” a senior doctor, who is advising the state government, said.
Senior microbiologist and virologist Renu Bharadwaj said a lockdown doesn't help in controlling the spread of the virus.
“Lockdown only gives us breathing space to better prepare for ramping up the facilities. It does not help stop the spread of the virus. Public education and enhancing awareness about precautionary measures are better tools to fight the virus,” she added.
Several epidemiologists across the country have criticized the imposition of lockdown to check the spread of the virus.
“We never resort to lockdowns to control communicable diseases so where is the logic in lockdowns for Covid-19 which has the lowest fatality rate. Lockdowns did not check the spread of Covid-19 in any country, including India,” said senior clinical epidemiologist Amitav Banerjee.
He also heads the department of community medicine at D Y Patil Medical College and hospital in Pimpri.
The repeated imposition of lockdown can severely affect many, causing a deficit of trust among workers.
“These episodic lockdowns at short notices will lead to a crisis of confidence and trust among workers who left the city and are now planning to come back to resume work,” Banerjee said.