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State of the Economy 2020-21: A Macro View 9

there are more than 2300 laboratories across the country, performing molecular tests for its
diagnosis - an unparalleled achievement in the history of the Indian health system. India has
shown tremendous progress in conduct of daily tests with a dedicated emphasis on expansion of
testing infrastructure (Figure 9). Keeping the focus on “Test, Track and Treat”, India has tested
nearly 18.5 crore cumulative COVID-19 samples with cumulative test positivity rate at 5.6 per
cent, as on 31 December, 2020.
st
Figure 9: Ramping up Testing in India

90 84 82 80 80
80 59
Average daily test per lakh 60 28
70

50
40
30
20
10 16
0
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Source: MoH&FW
1.11 The unprecedented pace of transmission and lethality of COVID-19 triggered a global
health crisis that has led to an enormous human toll of over 10 crore confirmed cases and
over 21 lakh fatalities. Given the unavailability of a potent cure and a preventive vaccine, it
was imperative that the spread be contained by implementing various public health measures.
However, this presented crucial policy dilemmas before governments across the globe.

POLICY DILEMMAS UNDERLYING COVID-19

‘Lives Vs Livelihoods’

1.12 Given the fast spread of the pandemic, the immediate public health policy priority was,
‘flattening the epidemiological curve’ to mitigate the impact of the spread (refer to Box 1
in Chapter 1, Volume-I, Economic Survey, 2020-21). The steps to “flatten the curve” were
intended to slow the transmission of the virus, push the peak of the curve and spread the
distribution of cases over time. Countries, accordingly, across the globe adopted various
non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) like social distancing measures via work & school
closures, travel bans, cancellations of public events and restrictions of internal movement
and, by social isolation measures via quarantining infected people from the population,
tracing infected persons contacts and enhanced testing. The containment measures allowed
ramping up of the health and testing infrastructure, arresting the spread of the virus and
saving ‘lives’. Chapter 1, Volume I of the Survey delineates that countries that imposed
effective NPIs, especially at the onset of the pandemic, could manage the spread of the
pandemic relatively better.

1.13 Even if no containment measures were implemented, a recession would have been