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As the official number of COVID 19 confirmations in India crossed 500 cases, we announced what is being touted as the world’s largest lockdown (claimed to be even bigger than China, if one were to believe the proud patriots!) as our response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Under the circumstances, it is India’s best response and fits well with the perception of ‘muscular’ and authoritative leadership. It also reflects other limitations under which we are operating — inadequate testing infrastructure besides, of course, treatment facilities for the true number of cases (even as we have been exporting ventilators till early March!).

Thus, this is our response to ‘flattening the curve’ which every country is scrambling to do, given the helalthcare infrastructure capacity, especially critical elements like isolation wards, ventilators, etc.