Lockdown may not be an effective way to arrest surge in city, says expert

Vellore

“The central and State governments treated the pandemic as a national disaster and hence are using administrative and ad hoc measures to combat it when it is actually a bio-medical issue and has to be handled accordingly,” Dr John, former head of the virology department, CMC Hospital, Vellore, told DT Next.

While the West was oriented towards an individualistic approach, the East believed in social approach, he opined, adding: “That is why Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong were successful in combating the pandemic.” The western countries resorted to the lockdown approach based on China’s experience in Wuhan province, he said. “This was because the Chinese had no other alternative.”

Extending or making restrictions tougher would destroy the social fabric, he said. “Though officials in the Centre and State initially stated that lockdown was implemented in the interest of people’s welfare, it ultimately proved to be anti-people,” he said.

According to him, the only way to flatten the COVID curve is to make wearing face masks, using sanitisers and hand washing mandatory. “Then the social fabric would be intact, as people would be able to interact with others following safe distancing norms.”

An additional factor would be to take care of the elderly and those suffering from diabetes by making them stay indoors and using face masks when talking to them even at home, he added.

Vehicles sans pass stopped from leaving city