COVID-19: After #JanataCurfew, India Continues ‘Lockdown’ Until Mar 31

#JanataCurfew, India’s fight against COVID-19 on March 22, 2020, was a grand success amid strict implementation.

All state governments and the Centre were happy about the results of this self-isolation drive across the country.

However, it’s done yet. In fact, the original battle begins from here, says the government.

Yes! It’s alarming that India reported another 80 fresh COVID-19 positive cases even on the #COVIDCurfewDay. This has happened despite the strict lockdown in strict lockdown across the nation.

With the new reported incidents, the total number of Coronavirus cases in India reached 415, with the single highest number ‘81’ on March 22 alone.

“A total of 415 individuals have been confirmed positive among suspected cases and contacts of known positive cases,” ICMR confirmed in a statement.

According to the Ministry of Health, the total number of COVID active cases in India has reached 329 with 24 people cured/discharged/migrated, 7 reported dead.

A total of 15,17,327 passengers have been screened for COVID-19 across all airports in India, so far.

COVID-19 ‘Lockdown’ Continues Till March 31

Amid this scenario, the Center and state governments have appealed to 82 districts in the country to continue with similar self-isolation and strict lockdown until March 31, 2020.

The respective state governments have announced ban on movement of public transport, passenger trains, suburban and metro trains, and also sealed borders until the said period to fight #CoronaSpread.

While the essential services like hospitals, groceries, vegetable markets, among others will continue to exist to serve the public.

The governments urged public to maintain self-discipline about going outside, even for essential requirements.

“Presence or movement of one or more persons is prohibited,” reads a statement from the Mumbai Police for city limits.

As the latest reports say, the Maharashtra Government has also announced Section 144 in Pune until March 31, 2020.

“This lockdown is a natural and logical extension of the ‘janata curfew’ and is vital to break the chain of transmission,” Lav Agarwal, Joint Health Secretary, said in a statement after the high-level meeting.

The UP Government has already announced lockdown of 15 districts including Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Noida, among other places under March 25, 2020.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal Government has also continued lockdown in Kolkata and other key areas from 5 PM on March 22 until March 27, 2020.

The Bihar Government also announced lockdown in its 38 districts until March 31, 2020.

The Telangana Government also appealed the same to public and issued directives for lockdown until March 31, 2020.

“The international experience shows there is no other way out but a lockdown,” says Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Meanwhile, Kerala, the second most affected state, is yet to take a complete call on Center’s directive over shutdown of its 10 districts.

“The Centre does not have the power to announce a country-wide lockdown unless it invokes emergency powers. Hence, we advised states and got them on board to go for a lockdown immediately in the affected districts to stop movement of people. We cannot go down Italy’s way by delaying a lockdown for long as the number of cases can explode and our hospitals will not be able to take the load at a later stage. The period till March 31 is absolutely critical to flatten the curve,” a Health official told media.

‘Crucial Results Tomorrow’: ICMR

As per the latest reports, India’s death toll has reached 7 from the previous number 4.

“We are not in a position till now to say if community transmission is happening. Mathematical modelling is being done and we will get some impressions on March 24, 2020,” says ICMR epidemiologist DR RR GangaKhedkar.

As of current reports, Maharashtra is leading with the highest number of COVID-19 positive cases at 74 cases and 4 deaths, followed by Kerala (67 cases), Delhi (30 cases and 1 death), Rajasthan (26 cases), Telangana (22 cases), Punjab (7 cases and 1 death), among others.

“In 80% of cases, the disease is mild. Some don’t even know they have got it. In some cases, Covid-19 causes fever and cold, and 5% require hospitalization,” says ICMR DG.

Amid the growing number of cases, the Centre has asked state governments to designate dedicated facilities for treating COVID-19 patients.

“After our discussions with the state health secretaries, it has been decided that patients would get better care if one facility is designated for treatment of Covid-19 patients. Like National Cancer Institute (Jhajjar) under AIIMS is an 800-bed hospital and will be designated for Covid care,” ICMR Research Director General Balram Bhargava said in a statement.

So far, the virus has spread to 192 countries, hitting around 338,724 people and taking the global death toll to 14,687.

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