India’s Covid graph has been curving up in an unbroken geometric progression—regardless of lockdown. Then, in phases since May 3, India has been also opening up: ‘Unlockdowning’. For eyes long shut, the light outside was blinding. After our first coronavirus case on January 30, India had taken 45 days to reach 100. Nine days later, as the lockdown started on March 24, we were around 500. But six weeks later, on May 6, just after we exited strict lockdown, we had zoomed to 50,000! The localised surges consequent to opening up bent that curve further upward, like surf on the sea. In another four days, we reached a lakh. As we go to print, we’re just 20,000 short of 3 lakh, with 1.3 lakh active cases. It has been messy and cheerless.
This story is from the June 22, 2020 edition of Outlook.
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This story is from the June 22, 2020 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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