While Mumbai’s cases skyrocketed, Kerala – a relatively prosperous state on the southern tip of the subcontinent – started to “flatten the curve”
What is the Kerala model? The first three confirmed patients in Kerala were evacuated by the Indian government from Wuhan and quarantined during early February. Even though Kerala had one fifth of the cases in India, they could still combat the virus. This was possible largely because of Kerala’s strong public health system as well as public cooperation in following preventative measures like social distancing. Despite its communist set up, Kerala’s healthcare system is highly privatised, with a division of labour between the public and private sectors. The “break the chain” campaign to limit the Covid-19 spread was particularly successful. This campaign aimed to educate people about personal hygiene and its significance in preventing the virus. A strict lockdown was also enforced with schools closed and public gatherings banned. Kerala now hopes to relax its strict lockdown as the number of cases have stabilised in the region. Read more from Propergaanda: Domestic abuse is a very real threat to women staying indoors in Afghanistan