India was quick on lockdowns, says WHO COVID-19 convoy

Dr David Nabarro, a COVID-19 convoy to the World Health Organisation (WHO) has praised India’s prompt call on nationwide lockdown.

Dr Nabarro in an exclusive interview to NDTV said India is leading by example. “This is a disease in which the sooner we respond, the more we will be able to contain the spread,” he said.

Talking about the effectiveness of the country’s 21-day nationwide mandatory lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the government should look at the data and ease the lockdown.

“There is pain associated with a lockdown implemented again but the government must do whatever is good to contain the virus. Speed is very important,” he added.

When asked about China’s efforts in concealing the spread of the virus, he said it was not the time to discuss but a time rise above blame games and help fight this pandemic.

On Friday (April 3), India entered day 10 of the nation-wide lockdown with more than 50 deaths and 2,300 COVID-19 cases so far. The government on Thursday said about 400 cases were found whose epidemiological linkage can be traced to the Tablighi Jamaat.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus experssed concern on Wednesday about “the rapid escalation and global spread” of COVID-19 cases from the new coronavirus, which has now reached 205 countries and territories.

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(With inputs from agencies)