Centre defends lockdown timing, says inputs from experts were taken

NEWDELHI: Asserting that coronavirus is a “new agent” about which not everything is known, the government on Sunday defended the timing of imposition of the lockdown and rejected as “baseless” media reports expressing concerns that it did not take inputs from technical experts while drawing up its Covid-19 strategy.

The government also said it is “fine-tuning” its strategy based on emerging knowledge and experience on the ground.

In a statement, the health ministry asserted that the decision on the lockdown was taken due to the rapid escalation of Covid-19 cases.

“The doubling rate of cases had dropped to a low level, pointing toward a dangerous trajectory of high case load and high mortality, as experienced by many western countries. The possibility that our health systems could soon be overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients seemed to be real,” the ministry said.

There was a unanimous consensus on the lockdown among all state governments, it said.

The government has already shared information on the impact of the lockdown and other restrictions to avert lakhs of infections and thousands of deaths, the ministry said.

“This virus is a new agent, not everything is known about it as yet. Government is fine-tuning the strategy based on emerging knowledge and experience on the ground,” the statement said.

About reports in a section of the media expressing concern about the government excluding the views of technical experts, the statement said, “These apprehensions and allegations are unfounded and baseless. The government is constantly in consultation with experts for technical and strategic inputs, scientific ideas and domain-specific guidance to address the Covid-19 pandemic.”