Unlock 1.0 proving disastrous for Haryana

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5

The first five days of Unlock 1.0 have been the worst for the state, with over 300 cases, on average, recorded per day.

• Also read: 300 cases in Haryana, third time in 5 days

During Unlock 1.0, the average number of cases per day is 301.2, with 1,506 cases registered in five days. It is 3.6 times the average for Lockdown 4.0, when 84.4 cases per day, on an average, were recorded.

During Unlock 1.0, the state, following Centre’s guidelines, allowed four more hours of free movement, while inter-state and intra-state travel and domestic air travel were allowed.

During Lockdown 4.0, free movement of individuals was allowed from 7 am to 7 pm, while only intra-state movement was given the go-ahead.

A total of 1,181 cases were recorded during Lockdown 4.0, which was 2.5 times the average recorded during Lockdown 3.0.

“There are two reasons, the first being movement of people from outside the state. Secondly, with private offices open, there is a rush for testing, which has brought into the open a number of cases in places like Gurugram,” said Anil Vij, Health Minister.

“Cases are rising with relaxations across the country. There is more urbanisation and mobility in Gurugram and Faridabad, which are seeing a spike. Cases have reached rural areas because of increase in mobility after relaxations,” said Prof Aswini Nanda of the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development.

Another worrying feature is the rise in positivity rate. On May 17, which marked the end of Lockdown 3.0, it was 1.24 per cent. On May 31, the day Lockdown 4.0 ended, it reached 1.84 per cent. On June 5, it reached 2.71 per cent.

“The rise in positivity rate shows that the infection is spreading. It is going towards community spread,” said Prof Digambar Behra, expert in pulmonary medicine at the PGI in Chandigarh.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.