Delhi’s Covid crisis

Delhi, which figures among the states worst hit by Covid-19, is also proving to be one of the worst performers in terms of fighting the pandemic. The fast-rising number of coronavirus cases and deaths has exposed several ills: the inadequacy of the city-state’s healthcare setup; the ill-preparedness of the authorities despite the opportunity provided by the over two-month-long lockdown to get their act together; and the political one-upmanship between the AAP government and the BJP-led municipal corporations. The Delhi High Court has rightly observed that the national capital is heading towards becoming India’s ‘corona capital’. Offering a scary glimpse of what the near future has in store, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said earlier this week that Delhi was expecting about 5.5 lakh Covid-19 cases till July-end. To say that Delhi is underprepared to weather such a storm is an understatement.

The irony is not lost on anyone: the Arvind Kejriwal government, which retained power partly on the strength of its healthcare initiatives such as mohalla clinics, has been found wanting in containing the spread of the pandemic. The lapses were glaringly exemplified by the death of Covid-positive police constable Amit Kumar last month. One Delhi hospital after another washed its hands of Kumar (32), who eventually fell victim to official apathy and red tape that deprived him of timely medical treatment.

In a move that reeked of desperation, the AAP government decided recently that the city’s public and private hospitals would only cater to local residents. The indefensible order was withdrawn after the Lieutenant Governor put his foot down. Another controversy has erupted now over the death toll: there is wide disparity between the figures put out by the government and those claimed by the municipal corporations. The unsavoury blame game shows that various bodies are working at cross-purposes rather than presenting a much-needed united front. Transparency is a must to bridge the ever-widening trust deficit. No matter how hard to achieve, Centre-state coordination can help in arresting the slide. It’s primarily up to the powers that be to prevent Delhi from being overrun by the lethal virus.

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