When 2021 began and many countries were having second or third wave of Corona, cases in India were in decline. That puzzled many. Some said it was because of cleanliness and food habits of Indians.
The situation changed after the Ides of March. Maharashtra led in rising cases. It did not have elections as in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry or Kumbh Mela as in Uttarakhand. Government of Maharashtra imposed night curfews and weekend lockdowns. It banned cultural, political, religious gatherings. It permitted only shops and services it considered essential. Gymnasia, restaurants, saloons, theatres, amusement parks and many shops closed. Many labourers left Maharashtra.
Other states came up with restrictions. Board exams were cancelled or postponed. CBSE and ICSE also did the same.
IPL matches continued.
Vaccination began. In March it was for those above 60 and those above 45 with comorbidities. In April it was for those above 45. From May onwards it is for those above 18.
Modi thought India had surplus vaccine doses. Around six crore doses were exported or donated/ gifted to other countries.
Situation deteriorated. There was vaccine shortage. Soon there was shortage of beds, oxygen and ventilators. Health Ministry issued global tender for import of 50,000 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen.
Modi appealed to keep Kumbh Mela symbolic. He said lockdowns by state governments should be last resort.
There are doubts about efficacy of vaccines. Some had side effects. Some died. Some got Corona after vaccination of two doses. Most people want vaccines.
On 21/4/2021 India had logged 3,15,925 new Corona cases, as per Times of India figures, highest by any country in a day, surpassing 3,07,581 of 8/1/2021 in USA. On 22/4/2021 India had reported 3,14,835 new Corona cases.
On 21/4/2021 Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij accused Delhi government of looting an oxygen tanker belonging to Haryana while it was passing through New Delhi. The tanker was carrying oxygen from a plant in Panipat to Faridabad and Palwal hospitals. In New Delhi some policemen and officers stopped and forcibly filled oxygen cylinders from it. Police in Delhi come under Lieutenant Governor. As per the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021, Delhi government means Lieutenant Governor. Anil Baijal is Lieutenant Governor. He is responsible for looting. If it happened without his knowledge or consent, he should say so.
Same day in Nashik 24 patients died due to oxygen leakage.
There are reports of looting oxygen cylinders by relatives of Corona patients in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh.
There are queues at crematoria. Some bodies are burnt at roadsides. It is Apocalypse Now.
Corona virus mutates. After UK, Brazil and S. Africa variants we have double and triple mutants in India. Instead of calling it Covid 19 each variant should be given a new name. Co means Corona, vi means virus, d means December, 19 means 2019.
Last year Corona cases went up during April and May and remained high during following months and declined in winter. Weather may have to do something with rising cases.