India and Corona-What we can learn from this pandemic

History will always remember 2019–2020 as black years for mankind. The corona virus which originated in Wuhan, China rapidly grappled the whole world. While there is no confirmed source on the start date of this disease, people in Wuhan started experiencing problems in Nov-Dec 2019.

Here is the world map of cases dated 30 Jan 2020 in the context of India.

There was not a single case of corona in India.

India’s first case was reported on 30 Jan 2020. Thanks to a student in Kerala who returned from Wuhan, China. On 2 Feb 2020 and 3 Feb 2020, 1 case each was reported from Kerala — students in Kerala who returned from Wuhan. Since then the cases in India have been on a rise.

Now let us try and understand what the Government of India did between Jan and 20 March. Below is a chronology of events that were unfolding on the national scene during this period.

There were enough ‘signals’ emerging from world about the seriousness of this pandemic. China, Italy and Iran were already struggling with rising cases. China had in fact already announced complete lockdown in Wuhan — the epicentre of Corona. Yet government allowed students to enter India from China. There were no quarantine zones. No screening was enforced at the airports.

The main opposition party (Indian National Congress) warned the government about the seriousness of corona way back on 12 Feb 2020. Sadly the government remained in denial and continued with Trump’s extravagant visit to India (refer the timeline above).

Rest of Feb was spent on Delhi riots paying little or no attention to this pandemic.

Where did the government go wrong and what lessons can be learned from this pandemic

• It took 167 cases and 1.5 months for Government of India to ‘act’ on Corona pandemic
• Early cases were clearly imported from outside India. Like Singapore India should have sealed its borders much before in Feb 2020.
• Lack of strict screening and quarantine until 20 Mar
• Lack of Standard Operating Procedure on lockdown. The whatsapp factory of news creation needs to stop with immediate effect — Crazy therapies, lockdown rumours, ayurvedic medicines, rumours about normal flu patients shown as corona patients, et al caused more panic and stress in such difficult times
• No reserve of medical equipments. Food Corporation of India was created with the intention of maintaining emergency food supplies in times of disaster. On similar lines, India should maintain a healthy reserve of medical supplies — ventilators, masks, sanitisers, medicines, surgical equipments, et al
• No announcement of relief package until chaos ensued. While US, Canada and other countries of the world ensured to keep businesses and population at large worry free about economic consequences, Modi’s first address to nation lacked any mention of economic package or relief.
• Lack of correct messaging. Its good to cheer the front-line warriors like doctors, nurses and police personnel. However telling in whatsapp-style ‘tell 10 more people’ is clearly a no-no. Also the chain of top-down communication in the BJP cadre could have been unambiguous. E.g. Streets of Indore assumed a festival-like atmosphere at 5pm on Janata Curfew day

Could all of this be avoided? YES