COVID-19 in India – A Special Report on The World’s Youngest Nation

India has the world’s youngest population when over 50% of the population is under the age of 30 Years and the Average age is approx 35-40 years. This is young, very young. We all know that COVID-19 Targets the old and weak first and most young populations recover from it. But this doesn’t stop the virus from spreading the way it is. As the way things are moving, it seems that this virus will evolve to be a part of our lives in the coming few years, just like other contagious viruses like HIV. There have to be precautions that would be required to combat this, but it would be inevitable.

The new standards such as masks, social distancing, etc will only make our lives better if we see the bigger picture. In polluted countries, if more masks are used, it would result in the reduction of respiratory diseases.

With every new virus, new defence lines must be created, but Indians who are the most social in the world seem to be not getting it right. Also because of the dense population, things will be difficult to implement and monitor.

The method used for addressing COVID-19 in India shall be improved. The three “Ts” which are Track Test and Treat must be implemented more efficiently. There may be difficulties in tracing COVID-19 in mass gatherings.

If the governments globally introduce 100% testing for all citizens linked with its national ID and mobile apps, the cases will reduce significantly. It’s just a matter of implementation. Instant testing kits are available for less than 10 USD and if all 1.35 Billion are tested, it will cost less than the overall defence budget of the nation. Or any nation for that matter. Without testing, the movement shall be restricted.

Smaller countries are more effective in the implementation of these methods. Dubai has introduced exclusive testing centers and has made it mandatory for getting one self tested. All employees must be tested frequently.

Testing in India has picked up the pace, today its daily testing capacity has touched about 1,00,000. The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan stated that a total of 15,25,631 tests have been conducted so far across 332 government and 121 private laboratories.

Even though there have been incidents recorded where asymptomatic patients are being released after 10 days from hospital to quarantine themselves at their residences. But strict follow up is not maintained. They are corrorists who may be out there in the open.