Indian government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
The first responses of the government of India to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country involved thermal screenings of passengers arriving from China, the country from which the coronavirus disease 2019 originated, as well as of passengers arriving from other countries. As the pandemic spread worldwide, the Indian government recommended social distancing measures and also initiated travel and entry restrictions. Throughout March 2020, several shutdowns and business closures were initiated, and by the end of the month, the Indian government ordered a widespread lockdown. An economic package was announced in May 2020.
For Indian state government responses, see Indian state government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.Background[edit]
On 11 January 2020, the WHO confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in India City, Jaipur, India, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[1][2]
Initial measures[edit]
January–February 2020[edit]
Protective measures were first applied in January. India began thermal screening of passengers arriving from China on 21 January.[3] Initially carried out at seven airports, it was expanded to 20 airports towards the end of January.[4] During February, the screening was extended to passengers from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.[5] Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia were added to the list towards the end of February.[6] Very few new cases were discovered during February, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) admitted that airport screening alone was insufficient.[7]
Over the month of March, multiple states across the country began shutting down schools, colleges, public facilities such as malls, gyms, cinema halls and other public places to contain the spread.
Law enforcement[edit]
On 16 March, the father of a woman, whose husband had tested positive for coronavirus in Bengaluru, was booked by Agra police for allegedly misleading authorities about the whereabouts of his daughter, who was a suspected patient.[77] Lucknow police lodged an FIR against Bollywood singer, Kanika Kapoor for alleged negligence in compliance of necessary directives post her return from London.[78] On 21 March, a chemist was booked for allegedly selling N95 masks at over four times higher than the fixed price in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district.[79] A case was registered against a Coca-Cola plant in Himachal Pradesh for operating in violation of lockdown order.[80] Hyderabad traffic police seized 2,480 vehicles for violating the lockdown.[81] On 26 March, Delhi police arrested a 40-year-old man and seized his scooty for allegedly calling a northeastern woman "coronavirus" and spitting paan at her.[82] On 27 March, an Infosys employee from Bengaluru was arrested for his social media post that encouraged people to venture out and spread the virus.[83]
Amidst rampant profiteering, black marketing, fraud and hoarding in relation to the pandemic, Delhi Police had filed over 600 cases and arrested over 300 people until 22 May 2021.[84][85] Uttar Pradesh arrested around 160 people for pandemic related crimes.[86] Mumbai Police informed the court that at least 2000 people in Mumbai in nine different private vaccination camps were administered fake vaccines.[87] Kolkata Police and the West Bengal state health department found "dust and some liquid" from vaccines at a fake vaccination site in the state.[88]
Judiciary[edit]
India's judiciary has been active during the pandemic, trying to ensure accountability among other things.[89] In early May 2021, the Supreme Court of India set up a 12-member task force to take up the availability of medical oxygen in the country.[90] Amid the pandemic and cases of the government restricting criticism, the Supreme Court upheld free flow of information.[91][92]
International relations[edit]
2020[edit]
On 26 February, India sent 15 tons of masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment by an Indian Air Force jet to China. The medical supplies sent to China included one hundred thousand masks, five hundred thousand pairs of gloves, 75 infusion pumps, and 30 internal feeding pumps.[93]
On 13 March, PM Narendra Modi proposed that SAARC nations jointly fight the pandemic, an idea that was welcomed by the leaders of Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.[94] On 15 March, after a video conference of SAARC leaders,[52] he allocated ₹74 crore (equivalent to ₹87 crore or US$11 million in 2023) of funds classified as COVID-19 Emergency Fund for the SAARC countries.[52]
On 4 April, the Government of India banned the export of hydroxychloroquine "without any exception", to stockpile supplies for domestic use.[95] The United States, which imports half its supply of the drug from India and expects to use it for treating COVID-19 patients, grew concerned. The US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Modi the next day, and hinted at possible retaliation in a press conference. India agreed to allow its export on "humanitarian grounds".[96] Apart from the US, India had outstanding orders for hydroxychloroquine from some 30 countries, including Brazil, Spain, France, UK, Germany, Australia, the Gulf countries and the SAARC neighbours. The decision to partially lift the ban preceded President Trump's comment on possible retaliation.[97]
On 11 April, India sent a team of 15 doctors and health care professionals to Kuwait to assist in its fight against coronavirus, following a telephone conversion between prime minister Modi and the Kuwaiti prime minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. Kuwait was facing 1,154 COVID-19 cases at this time.[98][99]
On 16 April, India sent 85 million hydroxychloroquine tablets and 500 million paracetamol tablets to 108 countries. In addition, one thousand tons of paracetamol granules were also sent to make paracetamol tablets.[100]
On 10 May the Indian government sent Naval ship INS Kesari, which carried medical teams, essential medicines and food items to the Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles following separate requests for help in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.[101]
[102]
2021[edit]
On 11 April, the Indian government announced it would ban the export of remdesivir, citing a growing domestic demand for the drug.[103]
Public opinion[edit]
According to two opinion polls by Morning Consult and CVoter in May 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval ratings had dropped to its lowest in a number of years. However he still remains the most popular politician in India.[107]