We need to recognise that the effects of the virus will be there with us for a reasonable period of time. It will take time for immunity and/or a vaccine. In the meantime, if we do not take the necessary actions to get the economy moving, we are going to have a very long period of sub-optimal economic activity. This will end up causing more death and destruction than the virus itself. Every human life is vital, but as I pointed out earlier, no society can save every life – and the Indian reality is that 1,000 people die every HOUR.
We must start the debate about freeing people from their homes and getting them back to work. With each passing day of zero or low revenue, more people and businesses will die. We may not see this because unlike the Covid deaths, newspapers don’t count these deaths. Do we know that 2,500 people die on Mumbai’s railway tracks every year? Do we see those on the front pages of newspapers and prime time TV? No decision is easy at this time, but we must start discussing alternatives to what is the most draconian lockdown globally.
Here is a 7-point solution to Unlock India:
- All 65+ year olds to be quarantined – families to make the decision for their own safety. Most of the deaths globally have been in the older people with pre-existing conditions. In India, just 5% of the populations is over 65 years of age.
- Anyone going out should wear a mask. This is for their own safety and for that of others. We are already seeing the rise of the use of masks. We need to get this going faster.
- We need to increase testing, and have people take a simple smell-and-taste test – since the loss of smell and taste seem to be the early warnings
- Those who test positive should stay at home to start with – especially if they are below 65 years of age. In most cases, they will recover on their own. If conditions deteriorate in a week after onset of symptoms, they should approach a doctor / hospital. This will also ensure that limited medical resources are used only for the most critical cases.
- Each individual needs to improve personal hygiene: maintain some distance when possible, and wash hands regularly. We should avoid crowded public spaces for some more time.
- Should outbreaks happen, those areas will need to be quarantined – think of this as a “Local Lockdown.” Instead of unlocking areas selectively and keeping a national lockdown, we need to unlock India nationally and then make decisions on which areas to lock based on the cases that emerge.
- We need to decentralise decision-making about lockdowns to the lowest level possible. Every elected representative (MPs, MLAs, corporators) should be “quarantined” in their constituency instead of the safety of capital cities. They have been elected by the people and are close to the ground. They should be the “chief ministers” of their neighbourhoods and make decisions on which clusters to quarantine should outbreaks become severe.
The rest of us need to get back to work, and move India forward.
Tomorrow: Unlock India (Part 4)
