India now has the unfortunate distinction of being the country with the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases, overtaking Brazil. It recorded more than 94,000 fresh infections on Sunday — a single-day rate not seen in any other country — and over 5.8 lakh cases in the week of August 31-September 6. Deaths from the disease over the past week also crossed the 7,000 mark for the first time. With a total caseload now of nearly 42 lakh, it is only the US — with more than 62 lakh cases — that is ahead of India in the macabre Covid tally.
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It is clear from the above that our management of Covid has been nothing short of a disaster. The lockdown imposed to control the pandemic was ill-conceived and poorly implemented. Our public healthcare infrastructure has been thoroughly exposed as insufficient and ineffective. And coordination between states and Centre was lacking on several occasions. As a result, we ended up flattening the wrong curve — the economic one as exemplified by an unprecedented recession — while doing little to curb the pandemic itself.
Read also – Covid-19: 94,000 fresh cases on Sunday cap worst week of pandemic
From this point, there has to be a clear change in strategy. High testing numbers should continue despite the rising number of Covid cases as this is the only way we can map and try to manage the disease. But most importantly, the focus should shift to mask discipline and maintaining physical distancing even as the economy unlocks. There are clear signs of pandemic fatigue as people are not taking mask wearing seriously. This can be disastrous as data suggests that India still is nowhere near peak Covid numbers. We have to adjust to the new normal and embrace it. For, with an effective vaccine rollout still some time away, this situation will be with us for a while. Wearing masks and physical distancing reduce infections and save lives. Governments must drill this message into the public, and enforce it by all means available.
