India coronavirus dispatch: States can't seal borders under Unlock 2.0

On the night of June 15, BMC issued its usual Covid-19 evening bulletin and the Covid-19 death toll was 2,248. By the next morning, the numbers had jumped by about 40 per cent. On June 15, Delhi’s health bulletin reported 1,400 deaths. On June 16, the cumulative total had grown by one-third. These increases came about as a result of “death data reconciliation” exercises that at least three states — Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu — have undertaken, to fix lags, and errors in the reporting of Covid-19 deaths. An examination of the Covid-19 deaths data reveals both areas of concern and hope. Read more here.

In Unlock 2.0, states can no longer seal borders. Why is this important? The Centre on Monday issued guidelines for Phase II of the ‘Unlock’. In view of rising Covid-19 cases, most existing curbs such as the ban on reopening schools and colleges, as well as multiplexes, gyms, and bars, and the operation of Metro rail services, have been maintained. However, the most important part of the order issued on Monday night is that the Centre has taken away the right of states to seal their borders. Read More