Chennai Doctors urges for Lockdown to reduce Spreading of Coronavirus
Reportedly the epidemiologist and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Epidemiology, Jayaprakash Muliyil argued "Chennai is already under a partial lockdown and it has proven to be ineffective. The basic requirement is to have enough beds, oxygen supply and to prioritise cases right now. Only some cases become serious, most cases will become fine with oxygen supply and medicine. But instead mild cases are occupying beds in hospitals, when they can be home quarantined. If you remove asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic people from hospitals, you will have enough beds".
The senior doctor in Stanley Medical college and Hospital, however, argues that the cases on ground are not that simplistic. Several experts have pointed out that the epidemic’s peak in india can come between July and August. A source in the chennai Corporation, however, points out that even imposing a lockdown, could not have the results that doctors expect. "Even if we impose a lockdown, there is no guarantee that people will listen.When we close offices and other institutions, people are still mingling within their areas be it in apartments or slums," says the IAS officer. "If we give one day and impose lockdown, then people will throng public areas and this will lead to another cluster like Koyambedu and if we impose it without warning, there will be hardships for a large section of society. The major problem is enforcing the lockdown because it is difficult to predict how people will act".
Moreover the senior doctor at Stanley Medical college and Hospital, however, dismisses this argument. He points out that the government's inability to manage a lockdown cannot be a reason to oust the idea. The Dean of one of the medical colleges and hospitals handling the pandemic points out that the lockdown period will be particularly useful in helping underprivileged sections. But virologist Jacob john says that only individual discipline can help tide over this crisis.