Kerala, a solution to stop COVID-19?

Kerala, a solution to stop COVID-19?

Kerala!

Its experience in stopping Nipah and Zika Viruses in the past has made them effectively flatten the curve. 

1. Zika - patients having 80 % asymptomatic and rest 20 % have mild fever-like symptoms and rash. It was dangerous as it caused microcephaly and other birth defects to pregnant women. Transmitted through mosquitoes and sex. 

1. Nipah - In, 2018, a brain-damaging virus that originated from bats has a recorded fatality rate of 86%*. Ironically, even with India’s poor medical infrastructure and timid surveillance systems, Kerala was able to stop it.

Experience matters

Zika virus was effectively contained in 2011, govt has used methods like 14-day surveillance for people carrying from infected countries, effective action teams for implementing stringent protocols.

Photo of Mr. P.B.nooh, District collector in Kerala.

In the year 2018, when Nipah had an outbreak in Kerala, Mr. Nooh, a civil servant had effectively formed a team and traced more information on their visits than what the first infected has actually claimed. Working day and night, they broke the chain to 18 patients although 17 patients have died.

How could they?

Kerala, a coastal state in the western gates of India is now popular with its atypical protocols to curb the coronavirus(SARS-CoV2). The first 3 positive cases in the country were reported and were declared an epicenter for the whole nation. Thought to be the most affected state, shortly was eventually able to flatten the curve. 2 months later from January, other states have reported an exponential rise in cases.

It all comes to there experience in scrubbing viruses before. World health organization (WHO) praised Kerala as “a success story” despite technical difficulties, was able to fight the disease and break the chain. The state health department was also praised by the BBC panel on its success.

Pandemic 

COVID-19, a pandemic raising alarm all over the world with cases reaching 2.5 million, people are worrying when will this end. On the contrary, a small state is now preparing to open all activities, even dine-in restaurants. These shall function amid the whole country facing crisis. Yes, its Kerala.

It all started when the first patient arrived in January, Spreading fast with one person infecting 2 to 3 others on average. Knowing the potential danger, Kerala’s former science teacher who now is the state health minister, k.k. Shailaja had got into planning the most effective way of handling the situation. 

She ordered screening at all 4 international airports and ordered patient samples of all those showing signs and symptoms to be sent for the national institute of virology, Pune, 1000 km away. It was unusual when the United States, United Kingdom, and others sitting across with no proper action, she was onto something. It was 2 months before all those nations were serious, she framed a 24 member state coronavirus response team.

When others were partying, she took serious decisions like on increasing task force members from 6 to 15 for effective contact tracing, providing personal protective equipment for health officials and framing protocols to follow. 

The sleepless nights

Mr. Nooh, who successfully broke the chain of transmission for Nipah, a hero who again got himself spending sleepless nights to fight COVID-19 before it gets out of control. He mapped out all the locations of positive patient's movements, started making a flow chart with the data his team has collected. Which was posted on social media and people were asked to contact the helpline if they interacted with such person and location. They quickly went on answering humongous amounts of calls, categorizing patients based on symptoms, shifting suspects to govt isolation. Mr.Nooh has taken tremendous effort in distributing masks, hand sanitizer, even groceries for home quarantines. He even made people practice Namaste instead of hand-shaking.

On March 11th, Mr. Modi, a Hindu prime minister, was more concerned on our gross economic growth, maybe panning on to spend tax payer’s money than worrying about the upcoming outbreak. Where WHO has already declared COVID-19 a pandemic until then. On contrary Kerala’s Chief Minister, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan has already announced the lockdown of the state. “He ordered a lockdown, shutting schools, banning large gatherings, and advising against visiting places of worship. He held daily media briefings, got internet service providers to boost capacity to meet the demands of those now working from home, stepped up production of hand sanitizer and face masks, had food delivered to schoolchildren reliant on free meals, and set up a mental health helpline. His actions assuaged the public’s fears and built trust.” As reported by the media. 

The Lockdown

14 days later, On March 24th, Modi Ji has announced a 21-day Lockdown without prior notice. With merely 4 hours of time to lockdown, millions of migrant workers and distant labor got stuck and couldn't reach their homes. People rushed in to buy supplies not knowing future consequences. On the Contrary, Pinarayi declared a community kitchen scheme to feed the public, and free provisions including rice, oil, and spices. He even moved up the date of state pension payments.

Hunger

There were media reports on hungry children eating grass at Uttar Pradesh, Prime minister’s home constituency although a 22.5$ billion stimulus package was announced by the central government.

People are very confident in Kerala's government, a communist-led political party ruling 94% literate people, lucky enough of having a vibrant local media. Elsewhere in the country, people are still believing what’s app rumors of drinking hot water and staying under the hot sun can prevent coronavirus, Keralites took it seriously. Having a population 5 times greater than Switzerland and 12% being above 60 years, which is risker than other states had an average of only 8%. 

At the time when deadly COVID-19 has reached Asia’s largest slums of Mumbai, Mr.Modi on National television asked people to come out of their balconies one Sunday to clap for health workers rather giving us a clear picture. Ironically we found people blowing ‘shankas’, banging utensils and ringing bells as if they were celebrating a festival.

Kerala has reported less than 0.5% of the deceased and is planning to successfully open workplaces and even restaurants except for 4 out of 14 districts, which are still considered red zones. With the perks of being the best health care system in the country, it has recovered more percentage of patients (67%) than the whole of India(16%).

Photo representing COVID-19 data for Kerala as of April 19th, 2020.

Finale

Their recipe included rigorous contact tracing, extensive testing, immediate shutdown, 28-day quarantine, heightened vigilance across the border and publishing route map of an infected person. Not only these but also every citizen's contribution has led to flattening the curve.

In conclusion, India can’t survive COVID-19 with just a lockdown, we need more effective strategies to be implemented through experiences faced by countries like South Korea and even our own state Kerala.

“Together we are much better”