Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Coronavirus cases have been increasing ever since the whole of Gujarat, barring micro containment zones, has been unlocked after May 30 in order to get the Indian economy back on track. In the six days between May 30 and June 4, as many as 400 new coronavirus positive cases were reported every day. The maximum 492 cases were reported on June 4. Why is it that after the lockdown was lifted and Gujarat was unlocked, coronavirus positive cases have been increasing with one death occurring every hour? Corona positive cases are surfacing after testing has been stepped up following the Gujarat High Court order.
More testing should have been done from the very beginning and for that private hospitals and laboratories should have been allowed to conduct the test. This would have allowed the detection of more corona positive cases and the infected persons would have been given proper treatment at the right time so that they do not spread the virus among other people. However, for reasons best known to the government testing was neglected until it received a tongue lashing from the Gujarat High Court and forced it to allow private hospitals and laboratories to conduct the test. Now, more number of tests are being done. This should help in breaking the chain of the virus and Gujarat would be able to become corona free.
After the end of lockdown 4.0 and the beginning of unlock-1, lockdown in micro containment areas has been extended by a month. However, the coronavirus pandemic is spreading. A total of 1,815 positive cases were registered between June 1 and June 4 in Gujarat. Of these, as many as 1,174 cases were registered in Ahmedabad alone. In the last four days, 117 patients have died. It should be noted that the government announced unlock-1 with a view to bringing back the economy on the track. However, the flattening of the curve is not noticed in Gujarat as is the indicator of controlling the pandemic.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the state authorities had allowed the opening of shops under the odd and even formula on May 19. This formula was extended to the entire city barring the containment areas for a few days. During the 17 days period between May 19 and June 4, except for May 21, over 250 new corona positive cases were reported from Ahmedabad every day.
The unlock-1 announced without achieving flattening of curve has resulted in an increase in the number of corona infected persons. Between May 19 and June 4, a total of 6,863 new corona positive cases were registered in Gujarat of which Ahmedabad alone accounted for 4,671 cases.
The opposition Congress party has alleged that less testing is being done. However, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and state’s health secretary have denied refuted the allegation claiming that testing was being done aggressively in Gujarat and that unlike other states, Gujarat has not hidden any data.
Meanwhile, many cases of neglect in the treatment of coronavirus patients in Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and SVP hospital have come to the light following which the government had declared some private hospitals as COVID-19 care centres. However, private hospitals had put humanity to shame which made the Gujarat High Court pull them up saying the private hospitals must follow ethics.
Admitting before the division bench of the High Court comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Ilesh Vora that 42 private hospitals would be compelled to reserve 50 per cent of their beds for corona patients. The High Court has directed the private hospitals to charge the patients 10 per cent less than the charge fixed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
Regarding testing, the High Court observed that the private hospitals and laboratories need not take the permission of the state government to do the tests for coronavirus. High Court also directed the state government to give the coronavirus test reports at the earliest. Following chastising by the High Court, the government as begun testing aggressively following which the number of coronavirus positive cases are likely to increase in Ahmedabad and the state in coming days.
Talking on the issue, analyst Anil Trivedi told ETV Bharat that initially coronavirus was under control but its cases were increasing daily. There was a slight increase in the number of cases after the government gave some relaxation in lockdown. Since April 30, at the end of lockdown 4.0, more number of positive cases are being reported in Gujarat. The increase in the number of positive cases indicates that people are not observing precautions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced unlock-1 to bring the Indian economy back on track but because people are not observing precautions there has been an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
ETV Bharat appeals to people that coronavirus has not vanished yet and we need to learn to live with the virus and we shall overcome the crisis provided we observe all the precautions strictly.
Also Read: COVID-19 Reality Check: Positive cases surge in Ahmedabad
