Is lockdown inevitable?

With one state after another going for a lockdown, is total lockdown in the country now unavoidable?

Kerala declared a complete state-wide lockdown from Saturday until May 16 as the state’s healthcare infrastructure neared a breaking point in the wake of a relentless spike in Covid infection. Lock-down like restrictions are already in force in several districts, where hospitals have started turning away patients due to lack of beds, ventilators and uninterrupted oxygen supply.

During the 9-day complete lockdown, government offices will remain closed while only essential services will be allowed. Banks and insurance offices will work from 10 am to 1 pm. All shops selling non-essential items will also remain closed, along with other establishments such as entertainment venues, malls, gyms and places of physical activity, which are already shuttered.

Public will have no access to places of worship, which will, however, remain open for essential procedures, practices and prayers. Weddings and similar events, already fixed, will be allowed to take place, but subject to a maximum 50 attendees. Only 20 persons will be allowed at funerals. Public transport will remain suspended and private vehicles will also not be allowed on the roads.

The government is planning to take over lodges and halls to set up Covid treatment centres.

Crematoriums are reporting heavy booking and relatives coming with bodies have to often wait for more than a day for their turn to come. Similarly, burials grounds are facing acute shortage of space.

Meanwhile, terming coronavirus a big health crisis before humanity, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said the only way to break the chain of transmission and contain COVID-19 cases is for people to "close down everything" till May 15.

Currently, Madhya Pradesh is under a slew of restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19.

In the state of Telangana, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Wednesday claimed that Covid situation was under control and that a downward trend started in new cases. He hoped that the situation would soon return to normal. A top bureaucrat also ruled out imposing lockdown in the state. He, however, said the government would consider High Court's suggestion for weekend lockdown or extension of night curfew beyond May 8.

Bihar government on Thursday suspended leaves of all police officials and employees in view of COVID crisis. Police officials have been instructed to monitor lockdown strictly throughout the state. "In view of COVID crisis, leaves of officers and employees have been suspended. Leaves to be granted in special circumstances on a case-to-case basis," headquarters informed. The state government has imposed a complete lockdown till May 15.

Meanwhile, the new containment restrictions enforced in Tamil Nadu by the state government have come into force from 4 am on Thursday, officials said, adding the new measures will continue till May 20. Tamil Nadu Chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan in an order said that all state government offices will function with 50 per cent staff strength for a fortnight, beginning Thursday.

Rajasthan government also announced a "strict lockdown" from May 10-24 as coronavirus cases has surged in the state.

Endorsing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call for a nationwide lockdown, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said it can help in breaking the chain of COVID-19 if planned properly. There is already a shortage of oxygen, medicines and other equipment, and the country might soon face a shortage of medical staff as well, he warned. "I fully endorse the call given by @RahulGandhi ji that national lockdown is the only option left. For more than one year - our doctors, medical staff have been performing under excessive workload for the nation. We have lost many of them," the chief minister said.