On a busy mid-week afternoon, two weeks into the nationwide lockdown, the man leading India’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is dealing with an array of dizzying numbers from across the country. At his office in New Delhi’s Nirman Bhawan, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union minister for health and family welfare, has it all on his fingertips. Every few minutes, Vardhan taps his phone screen to check the continuous stream of data, graphics and technical presentations that keep pouring in.
The minister’s schedule has been extremely demanding, and even a couple of hours of sleep is a luxury. But the efforts have paid off. “The preparations are going well,” he tells THE WEEK.
In the coming week, as the group of ministers he heads undertakes a “detailed assessment” of the situation, the health ministry’s containment strategy will hold the key to India’s fate. The precise identification of hotspots and the aggressive plans to test, trace and treat people in those areas will determine how successfully India can contain the virus. As will the participation of 1.3 billion Indians, as they follow the lockdown and practise social distancing.
None of it will be easy, but the minister is hopeful. In a detailed conversation with THE WEEK, he outlines the preparations to ramp up the health system, the risk assessment for India, its testing strategy and the long battle ahead. Excerpts from the interview:
Q/ How would you evaluate the success of the nationwide lockdown?
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A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock
