For the past few days, officials at the ministry of health and family welfare have been breathing a little easier. After months of dealing with critical shortages—of beds, doctors and trained personnel— keeping up with shape-shifting Covid symptoms, treatments that seemed to work and then not, and the challenges of contact tracing in a country of over a billion people, the Covid curve has, at long last, begun its decline. From its all-time high of 97,000 daily cases on September 11, India logged 63,000 cases on October 13, down further to 45,000 on October 19.
However, doctors and bureaucrats are wary of premature celebrations. With European countries such as France, Italy and the UK witnessing a second wave, it is feared the upcoming festive season could reverse the recent gains in India. In his televised address to the nation on October 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a reminder that even though active cases were on a decline, the virus was still very much here and that people would drop their guard at great peril to themselves and their families, especially the elderly among them. That note of caution is especially relevant for the upcoming festive season, with reports of heedless overcrowding in public spaces coming in from different parts of the country.
Kerala, which was the first Indian state to have overcome its first wave of Covid, is an example of how complacency and public apathy can send numbers skyrocketing again. During Onam festival, the state entered the top five in terms of active Covid cases (it is now at number three with 92,000 active cases, as on October 20). With the festive season upon us, people in different states are stepping out in large numbers to celebrate. Seeing this trend, hospitals have begun preparations for a possible second wave.
Bu hikaye India Today dergisinin November 02, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye India Today dergisinin November 02, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
ARTS AND THE MAN
In his centenary year, F.N. Souza: The Archetypal Artist tries to make sense of the recurring themes in the artist’s work
The Reluctant Art Critic
Advertising executive, art critic and possible catalyst of the modern Indian art movement, Rudolf von Leyden was an intriguing figure in pre-Independence Bombay
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST & POET
ANINDYO ROY’S THE VICEROY’S ARTIST IS A FICTIONALISED ACCOUNT OF EDWARD LEAR’S TRAVELS IN INDIA
Lady of the Light
This artist has transformed the humble bulb into a thing of beauty
S'more to Think Of
Called Marshmallow, this penthouse in Gurgaon with soft curves and plush aesthetics stays true to its name
A Marvelous Melange
From stylish living quarters to multipurpose adaptive space, this home in Mumbai turns every nook into a showstopper
TECH MEETS TEXTURE
Smart fabrics and intelligent textiles are changing the way we view home furnishings
Refresh and Revive
That old table, those cabinets or even the console can be given a new lease of life, one that is tailor-made to the latest trends
Standout Spaces
Want dramatic interiors but don’t know how? This home in Mumbai becomes a lesson in learning the nuances of adding magic inside.
Vernacular Wise
Forget international brands and design, the beauty and simplicity of local materials and ancient techniques is gaining momentum