Indian subcontinent nations go on lockdown mode against COVID-19

New Delhi:  Amidst high fears of a second wave of the novel Coronavirus infection in South Asia, governments of various nations in the Indian sub-continent have ramped up their efforts to control the outbreak.

Announcements of major lockdowns have been made in major Indian subcontinent nations, and others are slated to soon follow their footprints.

The developments leading to the governments deciding to seal their borders, ban import-export, freeze all domestic and international transport came almost a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated video conference with South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) leaders. Heads of SAARC nations, baring Pakistan, chalked out a plan to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

India

On 24 March, Prime Minister Modi in his address to the nation ordered a 21-day lockdown across India. The second most populous country, with 1.35 billion people, has hitherto registered over 500 COVID-19 cases, with 10 reported deaths.

PM Modi’s announcement of Tuesday came a day after he had appealed to the citizens to observe a day-long lockdown on 22 March. 

In his address, PM Modi said, “The next 21 days are crucial for us. It is most crucial to breaking the cycle of infection. If we are not able to manage this pandemic in the next 21 days, the country and your family will be set back by 21 years.”

Highlighting how advanced nations with strong health infrastructure were struggling to cope with the outbreak, he said that the ray of hope comes from those countries which have been able to control coronavirus to an extent. “For weeks people from these countries did not leave their homes, and we must follow the same,” he insisted.

Recognizing the economic cost of the lockdown, Prime Minister Modi announced a Rs 15,000 crore financial package for testing facilities, personal protective gear, ICU beds, and other essential equipment.

Nepal

India’s neighbor – Nepal decided to go into lockdown with the discovery of a second COVID-19 infection individual.  Government of Nepal led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced a lockdown on 24 March from 0600 hrs till 31 March 0600 hrs. 

The Himalayan nation had already partially closed after all international flights from 22 March, which was followed by the immediate stopping of all domestic travel options. Authorities moved swiftly to close borders with both India and China. 

Nepalese Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel who chairs the COVID-19 Control and Management High-level Committee, declared the lockdown asking citizens to adhere to all the government guidelines. 

Bhutan

On 22 March, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, along with senior government officials visited the border entry points and sealed them.

A day later Health Minister Dechen Wangmo declared that all Bhutanese nationals returning from abroad will not be given the home-quarantine option and they will be quarantined in designated quarantine facilities. This was coupled with severe domestic travel restrictions and escalated testing of citizens by medical officials.

In his address to Bhutan, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck said, “From 23 March, our land borders will be sealed. We are compelled to take this drastic measure in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. As you have been made aware through various government bulletins, the virus is spreading, causing immense disruption worldwide, and drawing closer to us each day. At such a time, the health and safety of the people of Bhutan are of the greatest priority, and as such, we are putting in place every measure necessary to safeguard the people of Bhutan.”

The country in a very strong move to detect the viral spread has announced criminal procedures and actions against anyone who hides travel history from the authorities. 

Sri Lanka

The island nation called upon a police curfew from 20 March till 23 March. On Tuesday, the curfew was re-imposed, barring media and essential services personnel, instructing all citizens to remain indoors.

Defense Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said the Government was re-imposing island-wide curfew to restrict public movements and also gatherings to keep spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) at bay to ensure public safety and health.

According to Gunaratne, there were over 3,500 people under observation at quarantine centers established by the armed forces in various parts of the nation.

“In addition, we have identified over 19,000 individuals and informed them to undergo self-quarantine at their homes. I request these individuals to stay at home and comply as per the instructions given by the health officials and authorities”, he said. 

The Defense Secretary had urged the public to act responsibly at times when the curfew was lifted to obtain essentials goods for households.

Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Pavithra Wanniarachchi on 23 March said that the total number of people affected by the coronavirus has increased to 97, of which two are in the intensive care unit. 

Bangladesh

The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government on 24 March has shut down all local, mail and commuter train services to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Bangladesh.

The government a day earlier had declared general holidays from March 26 to April 4, aiming to prevent its transmission. Earlier on March 17, Bangladesh closed all educational institutions until March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Over 23,000 people returned home in Jashore from different countries in the last one month. Of them, only 332 were sent to home-quarantine.

Anisur Rahman, assistant director at Sylhet divisional health office, said a total of 1,747 people were quarantined at their homes in the division since March 10. Of them, 67 people were released on Sunday on completion of the quarantine term.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said the number of death from the coronavrius in the country rose to three with the death of another person.

Besides, six more people, including a health worker, have been diagnosed with coronavirus as the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has increased to 33.

PM Hasina is scheduled to address the nation on March 25 about the overall coronavirus situation in Bangladesh.

The Maldives

The government is reportedly considering announcing a lockdown order in the next couple of days. Opposition parties have urged the government to close the Maldives’ borders to ensure that no one tested positive for Covid-19. 

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) on 23 March announced that detention hearings for people who had been arrested by the police will be held through video conferencing calls with the Criminal Court, instead of at physical hearings. The measure is being carried out as part of efforts against the outbreak.

Government’s COVID-19 spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Aziz said that it has been revealed that five out of the total 13 confirmed cases in the country have since recovered. The infected include three Italian patients and one each from Turkey and South Africa, said Mabrook, adding that the remaining eight patients are undergoing treatment and in stable condition.

He added that a total of 702 samples have been collected, out of which 569 have tested negative while 20 are still pending results.

Afghanistan

Afghan Minister of (Public) Health Ferozuddin Feroz on Tuesday said that so far, 42 cases of COVID-19 have been registered in Afghanistan, out of which 22 have been registered in Herat, four in Samangan, three in Balkh, two in Logar, two in Kabul, two in Zabul, two in Farah, and one each in Kapisa, Daykundi, Kandahar, and Badghis.

However, he expressed a dangerous rise of the outbreak in the country with a probability of 16 million Afghans contracting the novel coronavirus infection, adding that 110,000 of them may lose their lives.

Feroz was quoted saying that the number of positive cases is expected to rise in the coming weeks, adding that in the absence of cooperation and coordination at all levels, especially by the public, it will be impossible to contain the spread of this pandemic. 

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), 80 percent of Afghanistan’s population could get infected by the virus. Among these, over eight million may show symptoms of COVID-19, around 700,000 may need to be hospitalized, 210,000 may need intensive care, and as many as 110,000 may succumb to the virus.