Lock and unlock of the nation during pandemic waves: a crosssectional study observing the spread of COVID -۱۹ in India

Background: The lockdown policies and pandemic curve in India during the two overlapping waves were different. This study aimed to explore the spread of COVID-۱۹ pandemic transmission during the first and second waves in the context of nationwide lockdown in India. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional analysis of the COVID-۱۹ incidence and daily fatalities from March ۲۴, ۲۰۲۰ to July ۱۷, ۲۰۲۱ was done using data retrieved from public domains of governmental websites and COVID-۱۹ dashboards. The daily number of cases (DNC), and the daily number of deaths were observed in the context of the lock and unlock phases and analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel ۲۰۱۰. Results: The country was able to effectively handle the first wave in ۲۰۲۰, delaying the peak by up to six months, in which nationwide lock down probably had an effect. During the first pandemic wave in ۲۰۲۰, the DNC increased from ۵۰۶ cases on March ۲۳ (Lock ۱) to a peak of ۹۷,۸۷۴ cases on September ۱۶ (Unlock ۴), before declining to ۳۱,۱۱۸ cases on November ۳۰ (Unlock ۶) as the lockdown came to an end. With only state-level lockdowns in the second wave, the DNC jumped from ۹,۱۲۱ cases on ۱۵th February ۲۰۲۱ to ۴۱۴,۱۱۸ cases on May ۶, ۲۰۲۱ and then dropped to ۳۰,۰۹۳ cases on July ۱۹, ۲۰۲۱. The peak was uncontrollable, with ۱,۸۴۶,۸۰۶ cases and ۲۳۶,۵۲۹ deaths reported across the country in the three months from April ۱ to June ۳۰, ۲۰۲۱. Conclusion: The nationwide lockdown probably had an effect on the control of pandemic during the first wave. The findings highlighted the desirability of national policies, and synchronization of lockdown restrictions across the country during pandemic.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Pandemics , Quarantine , SARS-CoV-۲