Covid-19 positives as of April 25, 2020 has reached 2.89 million cases globally. The disease has killed 202,000 people.
Some researchers say the figures are under-reported. Many more have died in their homes, or they were not enough tested, or the tests were defective. Other researchers say that death was over reported. People with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney problem were in a terrible shape and these people succumb to Covid-19.
Some say Covid-19 is not as big a killer as flu-H1N1 was estimated by WHO to have killed 19,000 people in 2009. But the studies done in 2013 say that this figure was 10 times higher. We also understand flu. All people from flu do not die in isolation as in present epidemic.
Any debates on Covid-19 number of deaths today are misleading. It will take many year studies to find any number of affected people or total death. The only thing the world can do today is not to be stuck with any hidden interest and agendas. Political left or political right should not be the motivator in decision making.
We all want a prospering economy but not to open economy without resolving present difficulties. India should not want to repeat the mistakes of Italy and United States. Both of these two delayed measures to control the spread and that caused more deaths, it is argued. They also have lot more resources to repair the damages caused by bad judgements. Leaders and governments must study and accept science expert recommendation like social distancing, curfew-like lockdown, discipline.
Lives must be saved before worrying about economic fallout. The disease is totally mystifying. Doctors are learning new things daily in countries with highest casualties like United States, Italy, France, Germany and China. Open and honest communication among doctors and scientists help us all understand it. Then we can think about the numbers of losses and their accuracy.
Prime Minister Modi has played the role of visionary by locking India down. Let history be the judge. But being hungry is not the same thing as being without lungs to breath the oxygen through.
How many lives saved? No one can honestly answer that but people of a country are the most precious asset that must be saved above all other issues. Every single fatality avoided is a life saved. That is a sure accounting.
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