With no short road to universal vaccination, lockdowns should be precise and painlessSeveral States have extended the coronavirus lockdowns beyond May 31, while fresh cases appear to show a downward trend, but India’s COVID-19 battle lacks strategic focus. Some States are unwisely taking the foot off the testing pedal, making it that much harder to map the course of transmission. Although claims have been made of a large volume of three vaccines becoming available between August-December, the road to universal immunisation is going to be long. What States can do immediately is to arrive at a good lockdown protocol, sparing people frequent shocks. Free food distribution must be a central feature of lockdowns.

Source: The Hindu May 25, 2021 18:33 UTC