Last year on the evening of 24 March 2020, the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days. Later it got extended.
But the debate has been complicated by Modi’s move last year to impose a nationwide lockdown without warning, spurring a humanitarian crisis as migrant workers fled on foot to rural areas.
How the daily cases increasing some experts, including Anthony S. Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease doctor, say a temporary shutdown is important. Where, just about two weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on states to only consider lockdowns “as the last option.” Although the federal government has left it open for states to decide on local lockdowns, and places like the national capital Delhi and the financial hub Mumbai have imposed restrictions — though they are less strict than last year.
Read more: Invasive & Non-invasive ventialtion.
Why we aren’t seeing another Nationwide Lockdown yet, even after our daily cases crossed almost 3.7 lakh mark-
We know the economic impact we had/or still having after last year’s sudden lockdown. Some experts including our Govt. are saying a complete national lockdown isn’t possible. This would be disastrous for the poor, who have already suffered the most during the outbreak. People who live hand-to-mouth must go out every day to find something to eat or earn a day’s wages, said Kim Mulholland, an Australian pediatrician and leader of the infection and immunity group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne.
A sudden loss of livelihoods may once again prompt a rush of workers from cities to their home towns and villages.
“One of the problems is this false narrative that it’s either a full lockdown- which equates to economic disaster or no lockdown, which is a public health disaster,” said Catherine Blish, an infectious disease specialist. So, instead of a strict shutdown, experts said, local governments could stop activities where it is difficult to maintain social distancing. The only way to beat this Coronavirus is to get vaccinated.