Public health experts in Karnataka have urged the state government to consider locking down the state and employing Kerala’s triple lockdown model. This comes as the cases continue to soar in the state, especially in Bengaluru.
The first step of the Triple lockdown involves containing an area, sealing all the roads, and having one entry and one exit point. The public transport is suspended and the private vehicles are allowed only in emergencies. The second step involves complete restrictions in containment zones where primary and secondary contacts are infected. The third and final step involves ensuring family members of the infected do not step out of the house.
The triple-lockdown has been hugely successful in Kasargod and Kannur districts and is currently in force in Thiruvananthapuram. According to experts, the triple lockdown brought down the cases in Kasaragod by 94 percent in three weeks.
Suspend Inter-State Travel
The experts in the state have also advised employing this method and feel that it will be helpful in containing the disease in the state especially in Bengaluru. The economic activities will not be hampered much as the industries and construction firms are allowed to function and will have to ferry the employees in their vehicles after obtaining permission from the government. Apart from this, the experts have advised suspending inter-state transport. Dr. S Sachchidanand, the chairman of COVID-19 clinical expert committee said,
“With these restrictions, we will strike a balance between curbing the spread of the virus and ensuring economic activities are not disturbed. Since the movement of workers will be monitored, the model will help in keeping track of them.”
Some experts are of the contrary opinion. Dr. Shashidhar Buggi, the thoracic surgeon and the retired director of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases said,
“At this stage, when the infection has crossed Stage III, it may not prove productive. Ramping up tests and ensuring effective treatment is the best bet.”
Dr. Shashidhar Buggi led the operations in the state to curb the H1N1 pandemic in the year 2008-09.
Source: The Times of India
