There is no end in sight for what started at Wuhan in China in December 2019.
Published on : Saturday 09-05-2020
The statistics are mind numbing – over 3 million Covid-19 positive cases globally, and over 220,000 deaths.
The corresponding figures for India – around 32,000 cases and over 1000 deaths – appear to be on the lower side in comparison. But there are no winners in this grim battle against a deadly pandemic that is testing human ingenuity like never before. Statistics reveal that those in the higher age group suffering comorbidities account for the bulk of the casualties globally. This also means the young and the healthy have better immunity against this deadly onslaught. Almost all the countries, barring a few – most notably Sweden – have imposed a lockdown as a safety measure, in order to enforce social distancing which is seen at the moment as the most effective preventive measure against uncontrolled spreading of the virus.
While the lockdown has helped control the spread of the virus, it has also brought most of the economic activity to a grinding halt. This in turn has led to a rapid fall in revenue with the government spend on measures to keep the lockdown effective rising with each passing day. India has a very large migrant population in its major urban centres, most of them living precarious existence in the best of times. Now with no income, this vulnerable section of the population is dependent upon the government for their most basic need – food. The talk in government circles is now veering around to find a way out, to map the country in various zones, and identify the ‘hotspots’ and restart some economic activity in the areas deemed safe, albeit with adequate safety measures in place.
While it is still too early to think of the world returning to normal anytime soon, it is also very likely there being no ‘normal’ to return to. Instead, the preparation could well begin to accept the ‘new normal’, which is already a familiar term post the financial crisis of 2007-08. This new normal may have to factor in more automation and lights-out manufacturing to keep production going for eventualities like this. The Cover Story of this edition is on the theme of ‘Smart Everything’, which is presently a work in progress. From Smart Factories to Smart Cities, technology now has several tools that can be used to be prepared for a crisis of similar proportions in future. The shortcomings that were exposed this time around need to be bridged. Even frontline workers not getting the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) is indeed a serious lacuna that must be addressed as a top priority. Humanity must come together to make the world a better place.
