India was under lockdown for over two months sending the economy into a tailspin even as the exodus of migrant workers, some walking hundreds of kilometers back to their homes in what is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. On Friday, India recorded a daily jump in the number of Covid19 cases at 13,500 cases with over 300 deaths. Overall, Covid related deaths have crossed the 12,000 mark taking the toll to over 3.5 lakh cases.
Meanwhile Chennai has beenforced to go for a second lockdown up to June 30, after fresh outbreaks surfaced there. India’s biggest challenge is its population density and the movement caused by people returning to their home states from designated red zones and also from abroad. Health experts have been worried that a sustained Covid19 outbreak would burden its already over-stretched healthcare system.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Modi who was in consultations with state chief ministers clearly stated that there would not be fresh lockdowns anywhere in the country, and that the Unlock process has already begun. Unlock 2.0 will start from July 1, with more economic activities and fewer restrictions. Instead of limiting activities, testing will be beefed up. This was the Prime Minister’s sixth round of consultations with chief ministers on fighting Covid19. Modi reiterated that saving lives should be the top priority and urged states to expand the health infrastructure. He however cautioned that the rise in number of infections meant that there is need to fortify testing facilities, contact tracing, tracking and isolating Covid19 patients.
This brings us to the State of Meghalaya which had recently been commended by World Health Organisation (WHO) for the low infection rates which has been kept that way through strict quarantining of returnees from across the country. However, there is no place for complacency. Any let up in vigilance is bound to have adverse effects. After Unlock 1.0 and easing of restrictions in the State, public movement has increased and social distancing continues to remain a challenge. Also the wearing of masks in public spaces such as shops and streets are still being violated. This indiscipline is cause for concern and should attract punitive action since those who violate these important health protocols would put the entire community at risk. The propensity of those under home quarantine to break rules also poses a potential risk. Here the community institutions have been vigilant but humans being what they are, slip-ups are inevitable. Covid is highly unpredictable and comes in waves. Meghalaya has to be prepared for this and power up its health care system during this grace period. Meghalaya also has to increase testing facilities so that machines at any single institution do not crash through over-heating.