As the world collectively battles the Wuhan virus, India has emerged as one of the few countries who has shown immense resistance to the deadly virus thanks to the efforts of the Central government. However, the efforts of the Central government are severely hampered by the complete ignorance and apathy by some state governments.
Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Reddy stunned everyone as he claimed that paracetamol was enough to treat the deadly virus. Such a callous statement from a sitting Chief Minister is a sign of how ill-prepared is the state of Andhra Pradesh to tackle the Wuhan virus. Jagan’s predecessor Chandrababu Naidu lashed out at Reddy as he tweeted, “Coronavirus claims lives and it spreads VERY VERY fast. It cannot be taken lightly, especially by a man sitting on the CM’s chair. Shocked to see YS Jagan say that it can be treated with Paracetamol (sic).”
Reportedly, Jagan is also miffed by the state election commission’s decision to postpone the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh in the wake of the virus’ onset in India.
The paracetamol craze seems to be catching up as Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao on the floor of the state assembly remarked that, “There is no need to panic about coronavirus. Just paracetamol is enough for it.”
If the heads of state make such irresponsible comments than the general populace is bound to take the virus lightly and instead of reporting is likely to consume abundantly available paracetamol to treat the deadly virus which will not only have grave consequences for the infected person but also the entire region.
Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath who is seemingly living out his few days as the MP CM has focused all his resources on somehow bringing the rebel MLA’s back to the fold. When asked by a reporter on his opinion about the Wuhan virus, Nath remarked, “ Politics infected by coronavirus” as he goes on a transfer spree to swindle as much money possible before his government meets its fate. Should the virus spread its deadly wings in MP, the state is ill-prepared to tackle it in the present scenario.
Kerala presents one of the most peculiar cases of all the states. In a glaring lapse of the state machinery, two foreigners who had recently come from Doha, fled from the Alappuzha Medical College after doctors suggested that the twenty-something couple need to be tested for the Wuhan virus. The couple believed to be Americans are yet to be traced.
The Kerala government initially defied the Central government’s order of screening people coming from Italy as recently, a person who came from Italy directly visited the hospital but was sent back after the doctors concluded that everything was normal. But now the said Italian national has tested positive for the Wuhan virus.
It was found that the doctors were not appointed at Nedumbassery airport. The family who came from Italy went for even shopping in Kochi, but the Kerala government is yet to trace them.
The Congress-led opposition in Kerala stated in the state assembly that the central government had instructed monitoring people coming from Italy on February 26 itself. The Opposition alleged that the state government concealed this vital piece of information. The opposition’s attack came in response to the state health minister’s claim that the Centre’s instruction was issued on March 1.
Punjab government displayed its apathy to the Wuhan virus as the state government informed that as many as 335 passengers with travel history to the virus affected countries are untraceable.
“As many as 335 passengers with travel history to the coronavirus affected countries are untraceable,” said Health and Family Welfare Department of Punjab.
Maharashtra has emerged as the epicentre of the Wuhan virus in India as panic gripped in Nagpur after 4 people suspected of having the virus fled the hospital. However, three of them were successfully hauled back while one still remains at large.
Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh represents a contrasting scenario. The Yogi led Uttar Pradesh government has yet again set a strong example by cracking down against those who do not cooperate in the state’s response against the Wuhan virus even as the number of confirmed cases has climbed to 107.
Invoking Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, it has been ordered that if anyone suspected of carrying the Wuhan virus or anyone coming in contact with such a suspect refuses to get tested or obstructs the team tending to such a suspect, then such person would be booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 which entails imprisonment for a term extending to six months or a fine of Rs. 1,000.
At such a crucial juncture, both the state and the central government must work in tandem to fight the deadly Wuhan virus.