Can India Keep Up With COVID-19?

Will we be more responsible once one of us is fighting the virus?

India eased the lockdown at a time when daily reported cases have risen consistently over the past few weeks. The unlock was insensitively timed. But, shouldn’t we also be responsible for our lives? It is perplexing to see how many people are on the streets already as we begin our journey in unlock 1.0. Why are people rushing to temples, restaurants, and malls? It’s baffling to see how restless people were to get out of the house. Yes, I also want to go out (I’m an active 19-year-old girl) but how can I be so insensitive to the people who are fighting this virus, to the doctors and nurses who are out there risking their lives every day? Trust me, I know businesses are sinking and the economy is bound to go into a recession (GDP growth is predicted to be negative for 2020-21). And don’t even get me started on ranting about the macroeconomic instability, how millions of poor people and small businesses will suffer, unemployment will rise, etc. etc. The inability of MSMEs to indulge in any economic activity due to the lockdown has led to the choking of production-related activities across sectors. As of now, key sectors that make up a larger proportion of India's GDP have been taken at least partially, or worse, completely out of action.

It is strongly believed that the human brain is sometimes too optimistic for its own good. I’m not denying the fact that we ought to not be positive in these unprecedented times, but there needs to be a line. People seem to be in a state of optimism bias. Optimism bias is a cognitive bias leading us to believe that we are less likely to suffer from misfortune and more likely to attain success than what reality suggests. Cognitive neuroscientist Tali Sharot in her book “The Optimism Bias” suggests that this outcome can lead to foolish behavior engaging in risky ideas and poor choices.

So, are we waiting for someone close to us to get the virus, and then only we’ll start acting responsibly? Because let me enlighten you a little! The situation in the hospitals is deteriorating day by day. It’s not going to be an easy task to find beds in government facilities or to pay the huge private hospital fee (prices are way higher than normal). Particularly talking about my hometown Delhi, there is a scarcity of hospital beds, medical equipment, and health care staff. Hospitals are openly denying admission to critically ill COVID-19 patients. The ground reality is much harsher than what is perceived. There have been countless cases in the past few days which are bound to break your heart. For instance, Delhi’s Gangaram Hospital refused to admit a nine-month pregnant lady because she was found COVID-19 positive. The family further reported that the hospital demanded Rs. 5 lakh to be admitted or else they must go to a government facility for a free treatment (where the beds are only for the residents). Though the hospital realized this inhumane reaction, you can lose a life in split seconds if enough medical attention isn’t given on time. Furthermore, another sorrowful moment of Aniket Goyal was reported recently. He is a student at the University of Delhi who confessed that his grandfather was refused entry in six-government hospitals because the facilities said there were no beds available, though the “Delhi-Corona” app showed multiple empty beds. He said, “my grandfather was dying in front of my family every minute and we couldn’t do anything”. Ultimately leading to his unfortunate demise. Can you even imagine what it’s like to be in a situation where your family members are dying in front of you but you can’t do anything? You are just looking at them numb because you know in your heart those are the last few moments you have with them. How do you look in the mirror knowing that you were powerless to save them? How does one react when the government fails them with their rotten healthcare system even though you and your family have diligently filed income taxes every year? On top of that, doctors in Delhi government facilities are stating that patients suffering from COVID-19 should just quarantine themselves for fourteen days and take full precautions at home without panicking. How do you believe them when you lack trust in the system and the people? Will you be alright to let your mother just self-isolate herself when she’s suffering?

Over and above, the new strategy adopted by the government of Delhi is problematic to a large extent. The new limits on who can be tested for COVID-19 sound abysmal. The new strategy excludes asymptomatic patients from being tested except for those who have comorbidities or are senior citizens. These people will be tested once between day five and day ten on having come in contact with an infected person. Further, it means that family members who may have come in contact with an infected person will NOT be tested. How is this going to work? Why people are mesmerized by Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand’s Prime Minister) is because NZ was testing all individuals and not just the ones showing symptoms. While I understand that we might not be so equipped to test every single person because of the huge population and consequent resource constraint, denying the individuals in contact with an infected person is definitely not the way forward.

If you have the privilege to stay home, please please do so. That is the least you could do to respect those who are suffering, working fearlessly, or are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Don’t unnecessarily risk everyone because you can’t stay in any more or because you miss your favorite restaurant (now that everything is open). Trust me, you don’t want to go through this traumatic experience, knowing very well that you could’ve avoided it. Be responsible citizens, because the pandemic will end for good! Remember, opportunities don’t happen, you create them.