Maharashtra: Shutdowns fail to control the rise in number of Covid-19 cases

PUNE: Data from eight locations that experienced total lockdowns of various durations this month shows had the restrictive measures had little impact on bringing down the number of Covid-19 cases. In fact, in many instances, the number of cases remained the same or even went up during the respective lockdowns.
Administrators in these cities said the lockdowns only helped them focus on the hotspots, but didn’t help the cities or towns overall curtail the number of cases. This is in contrast to what the local administrators and leaders had contended while announcing the lockdowns.

Doctors and administrators said bringing about a change in public behaviour and adopting precautionary measures — such as wearing masks, avoiding crowded places and hand hygiene — would play a key role in curbing the cases.
From Ichalkaranji town in Kolhapur district to Aurangabad city, where the total lockdowns were imposed, there has been no change in the number of Covid-19 cases before and after the restrictions.
“The lockdown helped contain the spread in one or two hotspots to some extent. However, we observed cases coming in large numbers from other places, especially among families and relatives. People still have a lax attitude. We need to change public behaviour,” Ichalkaranji mayor Alka Swami told TOI.
In the three urban centres of Jalgaon district — Jalgaon city, Bhusawal and Amalner towns — when the lockdown was imposed simultaneously, the number of deaths came down and the recoveries of Covid-positive patients went up. However, the number of new patients detected during the seven-day remained more or less the same. Jalgaon district collector Abhijit Raut said considering the incubation period of the virus, which is between seven and 14 days, they would have to wait for some more time to see the real impact.
“I am extremely optimistic that we will see the positive impact of the lockdown in future. We are examining each day’s data minutely,” he said, adding that they had increased the number of tests done in these three towns.
A member of the Jalgaon district Covid-19 taskforce and oncologist Nilesh Chandok felt that the lockdown has not helped much in dipping the Covid-19 curve. “Instead of imposing a lockdown, let people come forward and get tested for Covid-19. If the tests come back positive, the treatment can start immediately,” he said.
A senior doctor on the state government’s advisory panel, requesting anonymity, said lockdowns for short periods would not have any impact given the incubation period of the coronavirus. “The idea of a lockdown was good when the source of the infection was known and the administration was trying to limit its spread. Now, in most of Maharashtra, there is localised community transmission. In such a situation, the lockdown does not do much. If people wear masks, wash hands and not go to crowded places, there would be mlre of an impact,” he said.