Addressing the nation on the outburst of Covid-19 Coronavirus on 24-March-2020, Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi announced total lockdown across the country for 21 days, starting from midnight of 24-March-2020 till 14th April 2020. With folded hands, affectionately but firmly he requested the people to remain indoors in the wake of Covid-19 attack. "Stay where you are", urging the people he further said, "Every state, every Union Territory, every district, every village and every locality is being put under lockdown". Emphasizing the need to draw 'Laxman Rekha' around the house he appealed people to remain inside the confines of their homes for 21 days; crossing 'Laxman Rekha' would mean pushing the country 21 years back. He underlined the havoc of Covid-19 outbreak in a clear term without mincing the words.
Starting from Wuhan, China where the virus engulfed more than 3000 people, it spread its deadly tentacles across the globe including India. Though the official figures of death in China is little above 3000, the real picture may presumably be much higher. According to unconfirmed reports based on the number of vanished mobile users, the death toll in China maybe around 1.46 crore people. In Italy, the harrowing death toll has reached more than 7500. Similarly, in Spain, the death toll has crossed 3600 while in Iran it became 1934 and in the USA 667. In India, 13 deaths have been reported so far but expectedly, it should not increase further because of the strict wide spectrum precautionary measures and lockdown.
To fight and defeat this dreaded enemy is the prime goal. It is an Armageddon - war against an invisible but potentially lethal Coronavirus. In the present scenario when its cure is in a process of evolution the virus, declared a pandemic by WHO, may cause havoc. The fast pace of it's spread would affect many more and/or kill. Globally, the total number of confirmed cases is 4,51,355 and deaths are more than 21000. In India, from 30th January 2020 when the first case was reported, the number of infected people has crossed 600 and 13 people have died. The exponential rise in figures is a cause of concern. In the absence of targetted treatment, the only means to fight the pandemic enemy is to kill it naturally.
Chinese scientists have opined that the incubation period of the virus is about five days. It may, as WHO has estimated, go up to 15 days. This means the virus would take about 05-15 days to manifest its symptoms after entering a host which, in this case, is another human being. It is, however, possible that in the meantime the infected person unknowingly passes the infection on to another one by touch or other means. The first case of its spread was found to be associated with 'animal-to-human' transmission since its origin had been assigned to Human Seafood Wholesale Market of Wuhan. The Coronavirus outbreak has been linked to Pangolins which might not be unfounded. Structurally speaking, the genetic material of the virus Covid-19 has been found very close to Pangolin - primarily ant-eater scaly mammal reported to be extensively poached and smuggled to China. Later the transmission of the virus, however, was found not necessarily linked with 'animal-to-human' chain instead 'human-to-human' transmission became prevalent. The virus transmits from symptomatic people to the healthy one through the atomized droplets of the former’s sneeze and/or cough. It can also be passed on to another human through physical contact like hand-shake. Measures suggested by WHO to prevent its spread includes regular hand washing/sanitizing with alcohol-based sanitizers, covering mouth & nose when sneezing or coughing and avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as cold, cough and sneeze. Besides, a safe distance of at least a meter or 1.5 must be maintained between the people while interacting. The most effective means to eradicate it, thus is, 'Social Distancing', isolation and maintaining hygiene. This breaks the chain and because of its low longevity, the virus would be eliminated soon.
The announced lockdown of 21 days may seem long but, as experts say, it will effectively contain the spread of the virus. Like other previous viruses, Covid-19 has four stages of transmission. We in India are currently at the second - local transmission stage. This stage is comparably manageable and less dangerous; traceable for the spread is relatively slow and the sources are known. It is, therefore, easy to break the chain at this stage. The third stage is when the virus spreads very fast and its sources are also not traceable. It is community transmission wherein it spreads in a web fashion. Fourth and last stage is the one when it becomes endemic and next to impossible to check it. It was the carelessness and casual approach towards the virus which caused a large number of deaths in Itlay, Spain and Iran. Though measures like lockdown were taken by the governments of these countries, by the time it was too late.
The spread of the virus can be controlled by identifying and isolating infected people. China, the epicentre of the pandemic, was able to control the menace by strictly imposing and enforcing it. Wuhan was completely locked down - even the local roads leading to affected areas and buildings were sealed. This pocket-creation restricted the virus and checked its further spread. Besides, the Chinese focused sharply on strengthening health care and research, channelized their energy in isolating and treating the affected ones. They used places like stadia to create temporary hospitals on war footings. The steps paid dividends; Coronavirus cases halted and contained. Such measures have also been taken by the Indian government. PM Modi has announced a health package of Rs 15000 Cr to strengthen the health care facility. The strict observation of lockdown is the need of time.
It, however, has its side effects as well. The otherwise pressurized economy due to various factors may become more strained. The disrupted supply chain to other countries by China may affect the production. India, albeit, will be affected minimally due to less dependency on foreign supplies but the hospitality, aviation and tourism sectors would get severe blow due to lockdown. The stock market is hitting hard causing Sensex to nosedive. Plunging oil prices and a looming global recession may further aggravate the situation. The nation, nevertheless, cannot overlook the health and life of the people which are of utmost importance. The steps taken by the government to combat the menace are quite satisfactory and in the right direction.
Well said
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