Kerala was the worst-hit state from Coronavirus in India — now it’s fifth in the country

• Kerala has gone from being the worst-hit state in India when the pandemic breached the country's border to dropping down four places.
• In comparison to Maharashtra, which soon overtook Kerala as the worst-hit state — the southern state has only reported 2 deaths while the former reported so far compared to the financial capital’s toll of 64..
• According to the state’s Finance Minister, Thomas Isaac, the credit for Kerala’s composure during this time is due to its medical and social strategy in handling the pandemic.

The first case of Coronavirus in India was reported in Kerala on January 30 in the Thrissur district when a student from Wuhan University tested positive. By March, it was the worst-hit state in the country as the government announced that all airlines will be grounded till March 31.

Since then, the state has worked its way down the list dropping four spots with the fifth-highest incidence of Coronavirus infections at 336. It also has the second-highest recovery rate in the country with 70 people who tested positive for COVID-19 now discharged and back at home.



Kerala’s Coronavirus strategy

In comparison to Maharashtra, which soon overtook Kerala as the worst-hit state — the southern state has only reported 2 deaths while the former reported so far compared to the financial capital’s toll of 64.

States like Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, which have fewer cases than Kerala, too have had more deaths ahave a higher incidence of death at 13 each.

According to the state’s Finance Minister, Thomas Isaac, the credit for Kerala’s composure during this time is due to its medical and social strategy in handling the pandemic.

However, it hasn’t been easy with Karnataka shutting down its borders leaving Kerala’s worst-hit district — Kasargod — without access to Mangalore’s hospitals. In addition, alcoholics in the state have been going through severe withdrawal with liquor shops shutting their doors.

When Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation on March 19 asking people to participate in a Janata Curfew — Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan immediately announced income transfer of ₹2,400 to 55 lakh residents, setting up 1000 free food stalls to feed the needy for free and provide others basic nutrition at ₹20 a meal; and ₹2000 crore for MGNREGA workers over the next 2 months, among other measures.

Even though it was one of the first states to implement a partial lockdown and enforce social distancing, many criticized it for taking longer to close down bars, pubs and liquor shops. Others feel that the state’s decentralised healthcare system has already done a lot to tackle the problem.

All in all, it became one of the few states to have taken quick action and measures to control the pandemic.

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