Many fear that the country’s healthcare system may not be able to cope with a massive outbreak. Around 130 million people will head to hospitals even if 10% of India’s population is infected, according to conservative estimates.
And the country only has 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people, one of the lowest ratios in the world, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
So, India is pinning its hope of containing the outbreak on social distancing and a complete lockdown of major cities and towns. And the success is down to the efforts of unknown but selfless workers.
Medical professionals
The need of the hour – doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and all hospital support staff are working double shifts, round the clock to ensure nobody is left wanting for medical attention. Doctors and nurses working in the coronavirus wards have good safety equipment. But doctors who are screening patients don’t have the same despite the fact that they are at most risk, they desperately need more safety gear.
Bank employees
As they say, money makes the world around and to keep people’s money accessible to the banks are running, albeit with skeletal staff – enough to ensure we have cash in this crisis.
Sanitation workers
To ensure that the spread of the virus is curbed, the country needs to be kept clean which is done by cleaners and garbage disposal workers – who are still running, some even without protective gear.
Delivery executives
Hundreds of the people locked inside their houses can barely cook, which makes services like Swiggy and Zomato the need of the hour and their delivery executives an essential cog in keeping the public fed.
Groceries
The people who can cook still need supplies to do it, which grocery store workers around the country are ensuring, despite massive crowds and hoarding, grocery store workers are keeping up. The bigger concern about such stores, experts say, is the person-to-person transmission and being around so many people who might be carrying the virus. These stores and pharmacies have ramped up cleaning efforts and promoted social distancing between customers to minimize the risk of spreading the disease. But in practice, these efforts can vary widely between businesses, with some appearing to conduct business as usual, often because their customers aren’t taking their own precautions.
Pharmacies
People can’t beat COVID-19 if they can’t keep a check on their existing conditions, which pharmacy workers are ensuring by keeping a supply of medicines running. Community pharmacies are especially vital during outbreaks such as COVID-19; this is primarily because community pharmacists remain on the frontlines of public health by serving as direct points of access for their patients. In some states, the pharmacist is abused as they don’t have sufficient medicines for the customers.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) around the world are treating people with the coronavirus, despite the shortage of masks, gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE). And for that very reason, they are being applauded, be it in New York, Italy or other parts of the world where the healthcare systems are being put through the stress test.
Besides doctors, nurses, paramedics, interns, ward boys, cleaners, police, etc are among the many who are at high risk as they need greater protection. Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences appealed to the government for help after health workers were forced out of their homes by panicked landlords and housing societies. Health workers are not the only ones facing the brunt of the frightened population in an environment where misinformation and rumors are thriving.
Airline and airport staff, who are still being called on for evacuations of Indians stuck overseas and management of key cargo deliveries, have also been threatened.
