In January 2020, the 1.3 billion people in the 28 states and 8 territories of India were going about their normal routines. Among them was a student who was returning home to India for a vacation from China where he was a student at Wuhan University. He was diagnosed to have the coronavirus. In February, persons returning home from trips to Italy, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates were found to have the virus. Indian authorities were diligent in finding any individuals who were in contact with the infected persons and requiring them to be in quarantine for two weeks. At the beginning of March, screening was done at airports. The first death form COVID-19 occurred around mid-March. By the end of March there were 1000 confirmed cases. On April 14th, a nationwide lock-down was declared until May 3rd. The lock-down was extended twice; the by the end of May there were 5,000 deaths from the virus. The Prime Minister imposed the lockdown on every state and territory. It was the most severe quarantine in the world, and it did negatively affect the economy. It worked! By the end of May, domestic flights resumed. In June, a gradual reopening of commercial venues began. By July, the night curfew was lifted. Domestic planes and trains were moving, and clearance given for increased numbers of persons to be present in retail establishments. International flights also resumed. By August 1, the lockdown was over, and everything was open. By the end of September, schools were partially reopened. In October 2020, the Prime Minister declared that the virus had been defeated in India. The people returned to work. Life hummed again, especially in the larger cities of New Delhi and Mumbai.
India was the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines though testing was not a priority. In January, a vaccination drive was in process, but the COVID protocols were very relaxed. The government thought that the nation had conquered the coronavirus. Meantime, British and Italian variants of the virus were stealthily penetrating India. In February 2021, daily infections decreased. There was little mask-wearing at weddings, or on crowded trains and buses. Offices reopened and scores of people were traveling, attending social functions, and not attending to the protocols. It was thought that India had conquered the virus. During this interval, there were two major events that greatly contributed to the wild-fire like spread of the virus the second time around. A major religious festival occurred in northern India. Authorities refused to cancel the event because it only happened every 12 years. Millions attended. In the south of India, political rallies for upcoming elections were scheduled; scores of people packed into these events for the most part without regard to protocols.
The virus and two deadly variants are raging in India. All ages are getting infected. As of May 21, 2021, daily infections reported: 257,299; daily deaths were 4,194. The total cases are: 26.2 million+ and total death rate is 295,525. In this second wave of the virus, the Prime Minister has not called for a national lock-down, but each of the 28 states and the 8 territories is to decide how to respond to the virus in their given areas. India thought it had conquered the coronavirus; now the virus and its variants devour the young nation.
Perhaps the lesson we, the people in the United States, can learn is to proceed with caution before eliminating or devaluing coronavirus protocols and the need to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Reflections
We in the United States can at long last see the light of freedom at the end of the long coronavirus tunnel.
As 48.8% of the nation has had one dose and 38.6% are fully vaccinated as of May 20, 2021, we can see the possibility of restrictions being soon lifted. Do we want to rush into liberation from the COVID-19 protocols that effectively slow down, hinder the spread of the ravenous virus? Have we not heard that the coronavirus variants are more deadly than the original virus? We do not wish to put forth answers; we share information in order that the reader may make informed decisions.
Pennsylvania Vaccination Data:
For information about getting vaccinated, PA Plan vaccine distribution, vaccine safety, vaccine FAQs:
health.pa.gov
Effective May 31, the state is lifting COVID orders, except masking. The masking order will be lifted when 70% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated. As of May 20th, in PA, 40.5% of the population is fully vaccinated (New Jersey, 45.6% and Delaware, 40.0%). In the nation, 38.6% are fully vaccinated.
If you wish to assist India, donations may be sent to:
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
P. O. Box 9068
New York, New York 10087-9068
Note on memo line: Advance #3022612
UNICEF India at Donor Retention Office
UNICEF House
73 Lodi Estate,
New Delhi – 110003
Dorothy Watson Tatem, D.Min., ACC
Senior Associate
Next Step, LLC
Cassandra W. Jones, Ed.D.
CEO & President
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