COVID-19 Notes
By Dr Satish K Gupta*
Shrinking Pandemic: Lifting Restrictions
Sick of presenting data of rising cases, hospitalizations and the death toll of various waves over the last two years, I find myself especially happy and satisfied to script the news about lifting restrictions and ending pandemics.
What a Feeling of Freedom!
India as of February 17, 2022
◆Active cases stand at 0.87%
◆Recovery Rate currently at 97.94%
◆82,988 recoveries in the last 24 hours increase total recoveries to 4,18,43,446
◆30,615 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
◆ *India Daily positivity rate (2.45%)*
◆Weekly Positivity Rate (3.32%)
◆Over 174 crore Covid vaccine doses were administered in India.
◆ More than 31 lakh (31,12,641) vaccine doses were administered till 7 pm on Wednesday 16 February 2022
◆ Goa achieves 100% Covid-19 vaccination target
Now Centre directs States to end the restrictions
Centre on February 15, 2022, writes to all States/UTs, asks them to review and amend or end additional COVID19 restrictions as the pandemic in the country shows a sustained declining trend.
States break the shackles
- Assam becomes the first state in the country to withdraw all Covid-related curbs and restrictions yesterday. The state has gone back to normalcy that prevailed before the Covid-19 pandemic struck the country.
- Sikkim already has announced 5 days back that COVID restrictions will be lifted in the state.
- Haryana removes all existing COVID19 restrictions in the state.
- Delhi government has recommended that remaining Covid restrictions be removed. In Delhi decision, however, is unlikely to come until the next week when the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), which makes the final rules, meets next.
- Mumbai’s Mayor said on Tuesday February 15, 2022, that all restrictions in the city will be lifted and Mumbai will be unlocked by the end of February.
- For the first time since January 2, 2022, Mumbai recorded zero deaths yesterday
- Night Curfew Lifted In Uttarakhand. The Uttarakhand, on February 16, 2022, allowed various other economic activities to resume fully.
- Punjab govt orders reopening of all schools for classes pre-primary to 12.
World scenario of lifting restrictions
China did it long back, now Western Europe follows the suit
- Switzerland lifts almost all its coronavirus pandemic restrictions from midnight February 16, 2022
- The Netherlands will lift almost all its restrictions against COVID-19 by February 25, 2022
- Austria will lift most of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions by March 5, 2022. It will scrap an earlier closing time of midnight for bars and restaurants and allow nightclubs to reopen
- The UK would remove the isolation requirement following the positive Covid Test from last week of February following a meeting of Parliament on February 21, 2022.
For India it’s just the beginning but the Litmus test remains
- The Centre had invoked the Epidemic Act 1897, an act to provide for the prevention of the spread of “dangerous epidemic diseases,” to combat novel coronavirus in India on March 11, 2020.
- Real freedom can be assumed when the Epidemic act is revoked.
- For many, the Litmus test of ending the pandemic would be travelling in the car without a face mask.
Why is it so special about easing restrictions for India?
The government had done a bit more than others during Covid Times. India stood on the highest pedestal of Stringency Index in Covid Restrictions. So it is a feeling of pride having done much better than others and a feeling of freedom more than the rest of the world. Enjoy the feel, stay blessed!
Also read: Why Omicron became the dominant strain the world over?
*Dr. Satish K Gupta is an MD in Medicines, a Visiting Senior Consultant Physician and Internist at Max Super Speciality Hospital, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at GS Medical College, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. He is the author of Journey of COVID in India: A Doctor’s Perspective.
