Even as the COVID-19 pandemic creates havoc, a national lockdown is seen as the most crucial step towards controlling the virus. According to an exclusive report by The Indian Express, some members of the COVID-19 task force, a technical expert body that advises the Central Government, are pushing hard for a national lockdown.
The experts argue that lockdown is a must because the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading, threatens to overwhelm the already creaking health infrastructure. India on Saturday reported more than four lakh COVID-19 cases and 3,523 deaths in the last 24 hours.
The task force includes experts from AIIMS and ICMR. The deliberations of these experts are of significance since the chairperson of the task force, V K Paul, reports to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"The COVID-19 task force is trying to say this very aggressively for the last few weeks. That we should tell the people at the top that we should have a lockdown," a member said. "A nationwide lockdown rather than what we are doing now, in bits and pieces across states, because of the simple fact that it is spreading all over," a member said.
Experts flag three key factors
The rampant transmission can only be brought under control by a lockdown. White House's chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci said that an immediate shut down for a few weeks could put an end to the cycle of transmission in India.
There is growing anger building up within the medical community. There has to be a pause. Infection among healthcare workers is also rising.
The situation emerging in rural India, experts said, needs to be urgently addressed. Forget critical care infrastructure, small towns and villages aren't prepared at all.
