India coronavirus dispatch: Why we need a greater decentralisation of power

Business Standard Throat swab collection demonstration at KIMS Hospital in Karnataka’s Hubballi on Wednesday Photo: PTI Here is a roundup of articles from news publications on how India is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic — from the risk posed by discarded medical waste to sanitation workers, to federal limitations, and why a strong scientific workforce is our best insurance against adversity. Discarded masks, gloves and tissues could be potential sources for the spread of this highly contagious virus, they have said. Chances are you have cabin fever: Being cooped up in our homes for as long as we have is bound to stir up negative emotions. Despite the high level of precaution that they have been asked to exercise, workers have not received any personal protective equipment from hospitals. Such equipment – masks, gloves, face shields, gowns and goggles – is needed to prevent exposure to the coronavirus. Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes on why we need broad-based administrative and consultative measures, to move us from command to confidence, when it comes to lifting the lockdown. This crisis has shown us that we urgently need reliable and scientific knowledge if we are to protect ourselves today, or for that matter in similar situations in the future. In an interim order issued on Wednesday, 8 April, the Supreme Court directed that private labs should conduct coronavirus tests free of cost. Read this interview with Rajasthan’s additional chief secretary of medical and health department Rohit Kumar Singh on why the model needs to be tweaked for other hotspots.