India’s IT capital, once lauded as the model city in COVID-19 management, has recently witnessed alarming spikes in new cases. There are theories galore, though none offer adequate answers.
By Jisha Krishnan
On July 5, Bengaluru recorded its biggest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases so far. With 1,235 cases added in a day, the total number in India’s IT hub went up to 9,580. Incidentally, the state government had ordered a ‘Sunday Lockdown’ across the state starting July 5.
Data shows that over a three-day period – from July 4 to July 6 – Bengaluru saw a 15.7 percent increase in COVID-19 cases. This is alarming, especially when you compare it with corresponding numbers for the three worst-affected cities in India – Chennai (2.9 percent), Delhi (2.6 percent), and Mumbai (one percent).
As India becomes the third worst-hit nation in the world – behind the United States and Brazil – the pandemic refuses to offer any simple solutions. The Karnataka state capital is a painful reminder of the unpredictable nature of the pandemic.
Unexpected turnabout
Two months after India announced its first nationwide lockdown in March, the Central Government had applauded Bengaluru’s effective model of managing the pandemic. From the use of technology to aid prompt contact tracing to the launch of fever clinics and timely sealing of areas reporting positive cases, the IT hub seemed to have cracked the COVID-19 code.
After the lockdown was eased, Bengaluru was among the first cities to resume economic activity. While the MNCs continued to work from home and schools remained shut, retail shops and malls were up and running within weeks. Soon, inter-district and interstate travel were on. And before long, the COVID-19 situation got worse.
From June 1 to June 30, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru steadily increased from 385 to 4,555. What’s more, the recovery rate has been very low – 14.7 percent – as compared to cities like Delhi (71.7 percent), Mumbai (66.1 percent), and Chennai (62 percent).
Healthcare experts concur that contact tracing is becoming a greater challenge, with the origin of the virus remaining unknown in the majority of cases. There are discussions of Bengaluru being in the community transmission stage, although the government refutes any such inferences.
Possible reasons
It will take a lot more than ‘Sunday Lockdown’ for Bengaluru to reclaim its erstwhile title in the fight against COVID-19.
