A Game changing strategy for Covid-19 lock down that may help return to normal life in India

What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations. - Sun Tzu

Covid-19 is an invisible enemy and taking it head on is landing us nowhere. We need to create a level playing field by concealing our surfaces as well as our physical selves to contend it. Lock down can not be permanent solution to hide ourselves from the virus. We need to think beyond medical solutions to avoid war with Corona and also not living with it.

Three basic things to consider:

1. As it has severe economic impact on the world, Covid-19 is largely a management challenge than a medical one.

2.  Herd immunity and vaccines are not worth waiting for.
3. Apart from physical contact Covid-19 is transmitted by contact with contaminated surfaces and this is the most critical factor. 

Covid-19 Pandemic is unique because of its fast spread and Covid-19 is not just a regular infection, it has held up economic activity as well as livelihood of the people. The number of patients is so huge, it is throwing medical infrastructure out of gear and bringing doctors and the support staff on their knees, no amount of effort is enough to provide relief.

"Living with Covid-19" has its own perils.

1. Hospital bills for the treatment of Covid-19 are huge
2. Survival chances are unknown, we don't know who is next. Even the most protected are getting the infection. We stand chance to loose vital human resources such as doctors, nursing staff, police, journalists, political leaders.
3. No other infection like TB, Swine Flu, or accidents that are currently compered with Covid-19 have killed front line workers such as doctors, nurses, police and other support staff. 
4. The bread winners are out for work and no family wants to endanger their life there are no set rules about death from Covid-19.
5. Covid-19 is real and people are dying of it. 
6. Masks and sanitizers are too little help once it gets into community spread.
7. Covid-19 is transferred by contaminated surfaces, this community spread stage is point of no return.
8. Herd immunity may be possible in lesser populated countries but in a country like India is long way of. For example a spoonful of sugar many saturate a glass full of water but to saturate tank full of water buckets full of sugar is needed. Can we afford to have so many people infected and dead?
9. No economic activity is possible till things come back to normal
10. There is no vaccine at the moment and there is no medicine that can cure for sure.
11. WHO guidelines are not in tune with Indians and their habits. For example people in India spit on the streets. We have no time for changing these habits. 
12. Due to illiteracy, poverty and indiscipline it is very difficult to maintain physical distance. 
13. Most neglected fact is distance between people and surfaces which is also needed to be taken in to consideration. 
14. In densely populated places it is impossible to maintain disinfected surfaces of things as well as common amenities such as toilets, benches etc. 
15. Containment zones in the cities still transact contaminated papers, currency notes, coins, that eventually seep into green zones. 

To bring things to normal the virus needs to be contained. Today we live in a world of disruption. As per Peter Drucker's quote, “THE GREATEST DANGER IN TIMES OF TURBULENCE IS NOT THE TURBULENCE; IT IS TO ACT WITH YESTERDAY'S LOGIC.” The most ignored angle to the pandemic is it is a management challenge. Covid-19 is not just a medical pandemic, doctors are clueless and doctors too are scared of getting infected. The need to manage people, places and the infection at the same time to contain the virus. It is difficult but not impossible.

The strategy for lock down exit is:

1. Develop a 'Quarantown' a totally new, fully contained facility away from the city's population, at readily available infrastructure to accommodate Covid-19 positive cases / suspected cases, recovered cases and the support staff, totally separated from each other with a buffer at every stage.

2. Transfer all the Covid-19 related cases to the 'Quarantown'

2. It is very essential to know the surfaces that are likely to be contaminated by the virus. Containing surface contamination is vital for containing Covid-19.
3. Prohibit access of general population to the 'Quarantown'

4. Only the Covid-19 related supplies human resources can enter 'Quarantowns' only when the patients completely recover they may be released. 

5. Create a critical care section for the treatment of severely affected patients.
6.  It will be an on going process to remove all the Covid-19 positive and suspected cases from the city and quarantine them at the 'Quarantown'.

Likely results:
1. zero Known cases in the city every day.
2. Reduced stress on the system
3. Easy to track suspected people, places and contaminated surfaces
4. Easy to exit lock down of the city
5. Faster containment 
6. More confidence in operations
7. Covid -19 free city leading to Covid -19 free nation.

© Anand Vanjape, anandvanjape@gmail.com Cell: +91 9890998644