No to lockdown: Covid second wave- first ‘anniversary’ of the lockdown should be an occasion of sombre reflection

India added nearly 50,000 new cases on Tuesday, the sharpest spike since November, with contagious strains found

An artist makes a mural of Monalisa with a theme to spread awareness to wear masks in view of COVID-19, in Mumbai, Wednesday, March 24, 2021.: PTI

The Editorial Board   |   TT  |  25.03.21 : The first ‘anniversary’ of the lockdown should be an occasion of sombre reflection. It is now generally agreed that the hastily planned lockdown imposed in March last year had crippled the economy. Job losses, the loss of demand, disruptions in supply chains, unprecedented sufferings of migrant workers, the limited reach of India’s social welfare mechanism — the lockdown bared many a wart. It is to be hoped that if a lockdown — national or local — were to be imposed again, these mistakes would be rectified. The lockdown, in spite of its debilitating impact, was deemed necessary to break the chain of infection. It was not conceived as a cure; merely a precaution. India then went on to unlock itself in phases, and near-normalcy was restored.

Worryingly, there is some apprehension that the country could be locked up again. This speculation can be attributed to the anxiety over the rising number of Covid-19 infections — apparently, the second wave is here. India added nearly 50,000 new cases on Tuesday. This spike is the sharpest since November. Worryingly, contagious strains have been found. A significant number of the samples tested in Punjab were of the UK strain; poll-bound Bengal, too, has discovered some cases with the UK and South African variants. As many as 24 states and Union territories have witnessed a surge in cases with Maharashtra, once again, shouldering a disproportionately high burden. A national lockdown, unless absolutely necessary, must be avoided. The economic cost and the consequent social unrest would cripple the nation. Some essential steps must be taken to keep India away from another lockdown. The vaccination drive must be expedited with vulnerable constituencies prioritized on a war footing. The decision to permit all citizens above 45 to receive vaccination from April 1 is a welcome step. But India should not lose sight of other, relevant challenges. There has been some concern with vaccine wastage, with even the prime minister cautioning the states. India’s healthcare network must be prepared to meet a rush of not only patients but also a far greater number of citizens seeking the jab. The paucity of trained health workers — the number of active health workers, a study now says, could be half of the government’s estimate — is another concern. But the most formidable of challenges remains growing public apathy towards safety measures. A concerted drive must be launched by administrators to penalize those refusing to wear masks or maintaining social distance. The government must show the way by discouraging mass gatherings for social, religious and even political functions.