COVID-19: India's Battle Against Pandemic Enters Critical Stage

India has so far been pro-active in tackling the COVID-19 crisis imposing travel restrictions for travellers at airports and other entry points and near lockdowns within the country. A total number of 126 Coronavirus positive cases have been reported from all over the country. Two deaths, the first from Karnataka and the other from the national capital have been reported so far. Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases, followed by Kerala and Haryana. Odisha reported its first case on Monday, as did Uttarakhand on Sunday.

Where does India stand in its fight?

Currently, India is seen combating COVID-19 in the second stage. This is the stage in which people with travel history to COVID-19-affected countries, as also those they would have come in contact with can face the threat of infection.

India now enters the most critical and dangerous stage of the pandemic. Stage III has brought countries like China, South Korea, Iran and Italy to their knees. In this stage, the virus sweeps through large swathes of communities. Hence the next two-three weeks will prove to be critical.

If India, down to the community and individual level, can get its act together over the next 2-3 weeks, a catastrophic situation, such as the one faced by Italy, can be averted. India faces unique challenges such as reports of incoming travellers popping in a paracetamol before reaching the airport to evade thermal screening and fleeing from hospitals and quarantine facilities.

There have been media reports of travellers returning to India from countries hit by COVID-19 going missing in Punjab and elsewhere in the country. Concerns have also been expressed at the screening in airports.