Lockdown implementation effective in keeping Covid numbers low: Health ministry

The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) on Wednesday issued a press release and defended the nationwide lockdown restrictions enforced on March 25 in a bid to comprise the unfold of coronavirus illness (Covid-19) outbreak, “as the period has been gainfully utilised to ramp up the health infrastructure in the country”.

The ministry was responding to stories that claimed that lockdown has been largely ineffective.

“This is not correct to say. The idea was to work towards improving healthcare services in a bid to ensure that all those who need treatment get it in time,” stated a senior well being ministry official, requesting anonymity

Both Central and state governments have earmarked 3,027 devoted Covid-19 hospitals and well being centres together with 7,013 Covid-19 care centres throughout the nation.

In all of the devoted well being services collectively there are 2.81 lakh isolation beds, 31,250 intensive care unit beds, and 11,387 oxygen- supported beds.

“India has managed to put up a better fight against Covid-19, as compared to many other developed and developing countries. Of the one-lakh cases, we have sent a significant number (over 40,000) home after treatment, and most of the remaining 60,000 people are also on road to recovery. As far as Covid-19-related deaths are concerned, India has managed to keep the mortality rate also low, as compared to other countries. We’re doing fine,” stated Union well being minister, Harsh Vardhan, throughout an occasion on reaching 10 million Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries.

The Centre has provided 65 lakh private safety gear (PPE) coveralls, and 101.07 lakh N-95 masks to the states. From importing a lot of the PPE elements, India has efficiently recognized home producers and is producing practically three lakh PPE coveralls and an equal variety of N-95 masks within the nation.

“This is a remarkable achievement. It was made possible because the government had time to prepare for an infrastructure upgrade. The country is fully prepared to manage the situation if the cases were to surge. We are comfortably placed at the moment. There is no need to panic,” stated the ministry official.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) constituted a National Task Force that has held 20 conferences since mid-March and is accountable for taking scientific and technical selections in managing the viral outbreak.

“A well-coordinated approach has been adopted to activate the scientific community of the country, who are contributing by working round the clock to develop new testing kits, protective equipment, respiratory devices, etc. This approach has helped in providing a common platform for sharing of best practices, a collaboration of work, development of need-based innovations, and in avoiding duplication of research work,” stated the ministry in a press release.

“With the help of institutions under the department of science and technology (DST) and sister ministries, DST is taking the lead in coordinating the effort to map and upscale appropriate technologies in India for addressing a plethora of issues related to Covid-19. The department of biotechnology and its public sector unit (PSU), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has announced a Covid-19 research consortium call to support diagnostics, vaccines, novel therapeutics, repurposing of drugs or any other intervention for control of Covid-19,” it added.

Experts additionally agree that India’s low numbers are due to the preventive steps taken at an preliminary stage when the viral outbreak was reported.

“The lockdown was supposed to buy us time, which it has managed to do. Now, we need to consolidate the gains. People will need to incorporate the behavioural changes for good such as avoid attending mass gatherings, wearing masks, maintaining hygiene, following cough etiquettes, staying at home if feeling unwell etc.,” stated Dr Jugal Kishore, head of division, neighborhood drugs, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital.