Those in lockdown envy those without. The world is
full of science-defiers and covid-90 skeptics who are egging their governments on
to lift lockdowns and return to business as usual. My Indian friends point out Sweden (9000 infected/800 dead) and Japan (5500/100) as models India should
emulate.
*****
Sweden is a small country. The virus is capable of
killing more Indians than the entire population of Sweden (10 million). Second,
the population density of Sweden is 60
people/sq mile, India’s is more than 1000. Mumbai has 80,000 people per
sq mile and Dharavi, a giant
Mumbai slum has 800,000 per sq mile.
If you have sixty people residing in a square mile, social
distancing is not difficult. (In the strictest curfew time in Mumbai, I am sure
sixty/sq mile will be found on the road.) Swedes have been isolating themselves
for years. No 70-plus Swede lives with anybody younger.
If Sweden were to close schools, 25% of the doctors and nurses wouldn’t be able to report to work. Or grandparents would have to
babysit those kids and increase the risk of infection. Sweden already has a shortage
of medical personnel. They have weighed those factors and opted for a
no-lockdown.
*****
In Japan, salaried suits are still crowding the
trains. Restaurants are open. Legoland Japan welcomes visitors. Why is there no
lockdown?
Because Japan’s laws don’t allow Shinzo Abe to declare
a lockdown. He can’t close any city, transport, schools, or even private
events. The anti-influenza laws allow him to request, not order. And
if the request is ignored, there is no penalty. (Compare with the latest from Singapore:
If you meet a person you are not living
with, you are liable to six months jail or 7000 USD or both).
Abe has done what the law allows. He has declared an
emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures. But the emergency can in no way hamper
personal liberty. The Japanese legislation is so strict due to the abuse of emergency
powers during the WWII. The pre-war Meiji constitution could have imposed a
lockdown, not any more. The Samurai DNA possibly makes the Japanese more afraid
of breaking the law than contracting the virus. The Japanese strategy may turn
out to be hara-kiri.
*****
All countries are suffering. But each country’s
strategy is based on its individual circumstances. You can’t simply copy-paste
them.
Ravi
So true 🙂
ReplyDeleteTo lift lockdowns and return to business as usual (as Austria has announced to do "after eastern holidays") is NOT SAFE and therefore just irresponsibly stupid and populistic!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteTo each country its own rules. No point comparing with say Sweden and Japan, We need to look at our own strengths and weaknesses and then decide what is best for us.