COVID-19 cases are surging worldwide with the situation of Europe and USA deteriorating quickly. India has also seen a 300% spike in the number of cases within a week. The Indian government has been taking preemptive measures like lockdowns and public curfew to control the community spread of the virus. Complete Coverage: Coronavirus
Crux of the Matter
Janta Curfew The number of cases in India has crossed the 400-mark on the day of Janta Curfew (People’s Curfew) which was observed to control the spread of the pandemic Coronavirus. There have been 8 deaths so far in India. More than 75 districts have been locked down and Section 144 has been imposed in various cities. Only essential services like hospitals, groceries, milk, vegetables, telecom, etc. will remain open. Indian Railways has canceled all passenger trains till 31st March 2020. The government is constantly urging citizens to not leave their homes without any urgent or necessary task. A week before, on 17th March 2020, India had 137 cases which have risen to 415 today – approximately 300% rise in a span of only 7 days.
America’s Woes Concerns for USA have been rising as it reported nearly 10,000 new cases in a single day, on March 22nd, 2020. As of 23rd March, it has more than 35,000 positive COVID-19 cases compared to 6,411 cases on March 17th, 2020 – approximately 550% increase in a span of only 7 days.
Coronavirus cases in USA
EU – Coronazone The European Union has also been deeply cut with Coronavirus cases surging very quickly in Italy. In fact, Italy crossed the death toll of China some time back and now it has a death toll of more than 5,000 and around 59,000 positive cases. Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, etc. are all seeing a spike in the number of cases.
In the 2016-17 Flu season an estimated 24,981 Italians aged 65 and above died from Flu (143 per 100,000 population). 4,200 deaths per month. Not because of #CoVID19 but Seasonal Flu. Did you know of this back then? https://t.co/fX4yXU7Fyv pic.twitter.com/36LSqviHMD — Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) March 20, 2020
#Italy may have had an unexplained strain of pneumonia as early as November and December 2019 with highly suspected symptoms of #COVID19, reports said. pic.twitter.com/5AJS8RakT0 — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 22, 2020
A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed India has been leading the war against Coronavirus from the forefront. And as China yet mulls over dispatching assistance to neighbors, India has already made nearly $1 million worth of supplies to its neighboring countries. Nepal and Bhutan have agreed to offer $1 million and $100,000 respectively for the SAARC COVID-19 emergency fund.
Two (non-peer-reviewed) studies published today with non-Human primates infected with SARS-CoV-2 disclose that the virus is intermediate in its severity between MERS and SARS-CoV-1, and that reinfection DOES NOT occur once the monkey is cured of CoVID-19. https://t.co/k9irirpNab pic.twitter.com/yq6AjMKATc — Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) March 22, 2020
Curiopedia
The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 is a law which was first enacted to tackle bubonic plague in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in former British-occupied India. The law is meant for containment of epidemics by providing special powers that are required for the implementation of containment measures to control the spread of the disease. The Act has been routinely used to contain various diseases in India such as swine flu, cholera, malaria and dengue. In 2018, the Act was enforced as cholera began to spread in a region of Gujarat. In 2015, it was used to deal with dengue and malaria in Chandigarh and in 2009 it was invoked in Pune to combat swine flu. Starting in March 2020, the act is being enforced across India in order to limit the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. More Info
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