Focus: GS-III Disaster Management
Why in news?
- All train, metro and inter-State transport services across the country were suspended on Sunday till March 31 as the death toll from COVID-19 rose to seven nationwide, and the number of confirmed cases stood at 396.
- Unprecedented restrictions were imposed in 80 districts across 17 States and five Union Territories affected by the pandemic.
Details
- State governments will issue orders allowing only essential services to operate in districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
- The focus should be on closure of all activities except essential services such as hospitals, telecom, medicine shops and provision stores.
- The new measures can be described as further “pre-emptive” actions, given the “sharp increase” in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country after curbs on international travel, contact tracing and efforts at social distancing.
- The ‘Janata Curfew’ on 22nd March could also be a precursor of more stringent measures.
![While initially the number of COVID-19 cases were increasing at a slower pace in India
Steep
compared to many other countries, things have taken a turn for the worse since Friday. With
100 new cases on Saturday, India's climb has become steeper. Despite this rapid climb, the
climb
growth in cases is still lower than many Western countries at this stage. However, India's
testing rate continues to be comparatively poor. By Vignesh Radhakrishnan and Sumant Sen
1. RAPID PROGRESS I AS of March 21, 166 nations
recorded at least one COVID-19 case. Of them, 46, including
India, crossed the 300 mark
2. PROGRESS COMPARISON I The table lists the % of
countries which took more days or fewer days than India to
cross a certain number of cases. For instance, 57% of countries
took more days than India to jump from 200 to cases,
while only 4% took fewer days. The more days a country takes
to reach a mark, the better
53
46
170 166
130
90
50
1 case
92
50 cases
70
63
Total
nations
92
70
63
53
46
progres
From O to
50 cases
50 to 100
100 to 150
150 to 200
200 to 300
% took % took % took
Ore days lessdays same days
11%
10%
57%
88%
73%
78%
4%
0%
13%
11%
9%
37%
150 cases
300 cases
200 cases
100 cases
Number of cases crossed as of March 21 _+
3. WORRYING RISE The graph depicts the no. of cases
since the 100th case in each country. With 100 new cases on
Saturday, India's path — is mimicking the exponential rise
seen in the early days of some Western countries
4. STILL BEHIND IN TESTING I Countries like Taiwan (only
143 cases) and S.Korea (which has contained the spread) have
some of the highest testing rates. The graph shows the tests
per million people as of Feb. 4 e, Mar. 9 and the latest date
in select nations. India's testing rate as Of March 21 was
behind S.Korea's & Taiwan's February 4 figure
50,000
20,000
10,000
5,000
2,000
1,000
500
200
100
India 's climb has
become steeper,
steering away
from the likes
of Singapore and
Hong Kong
Italy
tab'. Spaieerrnany
Taiwan
ndia
710
986
6,388
_ • France
S. Korea
11.6
After an initial surge,
S. Korea managed to
flatten the curve
Japan
• Singapore
Belgium
- —j • Malaysia
India's
testing rate
continued to
U.K. be significantly
lower compared
S. Korea to that of other
countries
- Qatar
India
. KuwaiV
6
10 14
Days since the 100th case
30
Hong Kong
18
22
26
10
100 500 1,000 5,000
Tests per million population (Log scale) _+
Latest date: India & S. Korea: Mar. 21; U.s. & U.K.; Mar. 20; Taiwan: Mar. 15
Source• Johns Hopkins university, health ministries of different governments](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://www.legacyias.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Steep-Climb-in-COVID-19-Cases-in-India-and-Comparision-with-other-Countries-Testing.jpg)
Recommendations
- State governments could request industries / establishments allow their staff to work from home and “provide renumeration to them during this period”.
- States could also take appropriate measures to help poor and vulnerable sections, including casual workers, in order to mitigate any hardships that might be caused.
![curbs
COVID-19
FOOD AND PRODUCTS
A look at the essential services and commodities
notified by the government
Locked
down:
An aerial
view of the
deserted
Koyambedu
flyover in
Chennai
during the
Janata
Curfew on
Sunday.
• K. PICHUMANI
OTHER SERVICES
• Newspapers, banks
and ATMs, post offices,
telecom, petrol and
diesel pumps
HOUSEHOLD SERVICES
• Electricity and water
supply, sanitary services,
LPG supply
• Groceries, fruits and vegetables, milk and
dairy related products, loading and unload-
ing of wheat and rice at FCI and State food
depots, cattle feed and fodder
MEDICAL
• Medicines and other pharmaceuticals,
health services, manufacturing of health
and medical equipment](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://www.legacyias.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Curbs-due-to-Coronavirus-COVID-19-Essential-Goods-States-Cities-Lockdown.jpg)