Statement and Background Paper on COVID19 (Corona Virus) by JSA (PHM India) and All India People's Science Network (AIPSN)

From 30 January 2020, when the first case of COVID-19 was reported, till today, March 15, 2020, the number of confirmed cases in India has risen to 107, and there have been two deaths. The government of India has reacted swiftly to this epidemic by curtailing international travel, screening those coming in from abroad and their contacts and either isolating them if they have tested positive or placing them in quarantine if they are asymptomatic. This has no doubt helped delay the epidemic. But as the government knows, the worst is yet to come. While immediate executive action in the form of isolation of patients and quarantines, and a high pressure campaign for social distance is most welcome, this would not be sufficient if community transmission is established and the pandemic peaks. The country is particularly vulnerable because of a high degree of past neglect of public health services, and the privatization of healthcare. Read the background paper on COVID19 by JSA and AIPSN - CLICK HERE Read the statement on COVID19 by JSA and AIPSN below. [pdf-embedder url="https://phmovement.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Statement-COVID19.pdf"]