Science & Technology
Expert Panel Against Full Repeal of lockdown
- 08 Apr 2020
- 4 min read
Why in News
An expert committee’s report to the government has suggested that 14th April, 2020 is not the right time to fully withdraw the 21-days nationwide lockdown.
- The committee was asked to look into the strategy to ease the lockdown restrictions.
21 Days Lockdown
- The period of 21 days was chosen due to public health/epidemiological significance and it is supported by scientific data.
- The calculations are based on the estimated incubation period of the virus in a human host.
- The 21-day quarantine value is derived from interpretations of outbreak data from past and present epidemics and pandemics. For example, the cases of Spanish Flu and Ebola.
- Explanation:
- In epidemiological terms, 14 days are of the initial incubation period and adding another week, i.e. 21 days is to ensure that residual infection dies out.
- It is estimated that being a new strain of coronavirus, its median incubation period (the time between the entry of virus to the onset of symptoms/ disease) falls within the period of 14 days.
- According to a recent study the median incubation period for COVID-19 is just over five days and 97.5% of people who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of infection.
- So, the current period of active monitoring (14 days) recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is well supported by the evidence.
Key Points
- Restrictions on large-scale movement of people across International and State boundaries is critical and should be kept there unless and until the situation gets under control in every State.
- The major concern is that a prolonged and stringent lockdown will lead to economic hardships, famine and law and order issues, which may undermine the objectives of both the lockdown and health management.
- The committee suggested a withdrawal strategy which should be gradual, phased and calibrated so that it is ensured that the caseload is kept below the capacity of the health-care systems.
- Such a phased approach should be operationalized at the revenue district level.
Suggestions
- All states should fasten up preparatory work for the predicted and rapid rise of Covid-19 cases as they are expected to exceed the local capacity in some cities.
- No relaxation in speedy production and procurement of test kits, ventilators, PPEs for health-care personnel and masks.
- Centre should release funds and create a national coordination mechanism to distribute them on a need basis.
- Centre should ensure effective coordination between the States and logistics operators.
- Supporting the agricultural sector in production, marketing, storage, and transport.
- Ensuring continuation of modern technological leaps, like rapid innovations and practices which are being introduced in education, judiciary, local business, telemedicine, among others, even after the lockdown ends.
