India’s Prime Minister recently held a video conference with the Chief Ministers of all the States, addressing the ongoing pandemic. Emphasizing the importance of a collective exit strategy, they discussed several suggestions to ensure a gradual and steady return to normal life.
Key Suggestions
The key proposals discussed included the following strategies:
1. Maintaining seamless supply lines for medical equipment, drugs, and raw materials.
2. Coordinating and prioritizing testing, tracing, isolation, and quarantine across all states.
3. Appointing district-level disease surveillance officers for an optimal approach in battling the crisis.
4. Ensuring separate hospitals for Covid-19 patients, equipped with adequately protected medical personnel.
5. Facilitating speedy online training of doctors in treating Covid-19 patients.
6. Exploring beyond Agricultural Produce Marketing Corporations (APMC) for procurement of the ongoing season’s harvest.
7. Introducing truck pooling schemes for transporting produce to the markets.
8. Allocating funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to combat COVID-19.
Furthermore, disbursement of grants under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana, recruitment of volunteers from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS), coordination between NGOs, crisis management groups, and adopting traditional immunity-boosting methods were also emphasized.
Scientific Perspective on Lockdown
Ahead of eventual easing of lockdown measures, scientists have stressed the need for adequate preparation to avoid potential public health repercussions. Effective post-lockdown plans need to be in place to sustainably maintain low infection rates.
Appropriate utilization of lockdown will prevent any potential bounce-back effect of infections. The present limited testing policy poses risks of undetected asymptomatic or mild cases, potentially causing an infection resurgence post-lockdown.
Concerns over reverse migration enhancing virus spread have also been raised. The recommended approach is to stock up on food supplies and fast-track cash transfers for workers’ welfare.
Addressing the Reverse Migration Problem
With the ongoing reverse migration, the focus needs to shift on ensuring food security and fast cash transfers for the welfare of workers. Rather than halting the reverse migration, forces should be used to stock up food grains and ensure welfare of the workers.
Contributions from Scientists
Scientists are offering complete support and expertise towards battling Covid-19 and minimizing loss as far as possible.
New Developments
DRDO has developed a special sealant, providing an alternative to seam sealing tape, a critical component in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They have also manufactured a biosuit to safeguard medical personnel against the virus.
Naval Dockyard Mumbai has developed a cost-effective handheld InfraRed (IR) based temperature sensor for screening individuals at entry gates. These developments are noteworthy strides in innovatively managing the crisis.