This and that…20203… Whither India? In brief

I am presently in New Jersey across the river Hudson from New York. New York and New Jersey are the two states in the USA worst affected by the pandemic. Within these two states the worst affected is the city of New York and the three counties (districts) of New Jersey bordering New York City.

Some figures: (AS on 01 May 2020)

USA	Total	Total	Active	Tot Cases/	Deaths/	Total	Tests/
State	Cases	Deaths	Cases	1M pop	1M pop	Tests	1M pop
USA Total	1,132,038	65,783	904,589	3,420	199	6,700,781	20,244
New York	315,222	24,069	240,586	16,068	1,227	927,438	47,274
New Jersey	121,190	7,538	112,381	13,645	849	255,214	28,734

During the peak periods in these states the Medicare facilities were found wanting. Required resources like hospital beds, ICU beds, doctors, nurses, medical equipment were about 4-5 time those available. Hospital ship of the US Navy, Field Hospitals by the Army were all pressed into service – but they all came a bit too late. The damage was already done.

In comparison here the figures for India from those states with more than 1000 cases as on 01 May 2020.

State/UT	Confirmed	Active	Recovered	Death
Maharashtra	11,506	9,142	1,879	485
Gujarat	4,721	3,750	735	236
Delhi	3,738	2,510	1,167	61
Rajasthan	2,720	1,534	121	365
Madhya Pradesh	2,715	2,046	524	145
Tamil Nadu	2,526	1,186	1,312	28
Uttar Pradesh	2,328	1,632	654	42
Andhra Pradesh	1,525	1,051	441	33
Telangana	1,044	552	464	28

I will confine my discussion to these two states, NJ and NYof the USA where I have been an eyewitness of the developments, which started reacting to the virus weeks after India had started reacting and enforcing travel restrictions and the lock down. New York is as crowded and as dirty as any metro in India. The metro network in New York, more efficient and more crowded during peak hours, is comparable with that in Mumbai for the sheer volume of traffic.

As on date, 02 May 2020, the states of NY and NJ are in complete lock down. No industry, no malls, no cinema houses, no clubs (including Golf Clubs), no salons, no parties, no gatherings, no.., no……….. Yes, during these times, restricted public transport was kept open to facilitate movement of healthcare workers and those involved in providing essential services. These sates are expected to open up a bit more in the next few weeks. Joblessness and people queueing up for meal coupons, in spite of the “massive economic stimulus” injected is huge.

You just have to compare the statistics to realise the positive effect on the lives and morale of Indians. Morale of the people is very important for them to return to work. A quote from the local press “...... for that to be the case (economic recovery), a vast army of workers will have to put aside their fears of a pandemic that has infected more than a million Americans and killed at least 60,000 and restart the country's economic engine.”

I am convinced that the key to an economic recovery is the people. A stimulus will come any which way. In spite of the stimulus only if the people come out to work (and spend) without fear or panic can the economy recover.

I feel at this stage, it is advantage India.