How should India end its lockdown?

India has had a lock-down for many weeks now, but the number of infections keeps rising. The purpose of the lockdown was to reduce the number of infections, but the government doesn't want to admit its failure. So it says lockdown reduced the rate at which virus infections were rising. So the lockdown is successful as per the government.

Now obviously, a lockdown can't continue for many months. It would destroy the economy and cause deaths due to starvation/malnutrition/diseases. So at some point in time, the lockdown will have to end.

In my opinion, the lockdown should be ended immediately with the following rules in place

• Face mask compulsory in public.
• Hygiene e.g. No spitting, no throwing garbage on road, no cow/dog shit on road, etc.
• Social distancing. Every business has to think and have a plan e.g. Doctors may see people by appointment so that there is no crowding in dispensaries. Restaurants will permit take-aways, but no eat-in. Office canteens will deliver food to cubicles of employees. Online training in schools with students attending school only for practicals that can't be shown online.
• Businesses that can't follow social distancing will remain shut e.g. Gyms, swimming pools, sports complexes, playgroups, nursery, Jr Kg, Sr Kg, etc.
• Allow private cars/buses to ferry passengers. This will reduce crowding in public transport.

Investment in Stocks

Three companies have invested in RIL: Facebook ($5.7 billion), Silver Lake Partners ($750 million), and Vista Equity Partners ($1.5 billion). That's roughly $8 billion (₹60,596.37 crores) in three weeks.

USA FED is printing a lot of dollars. This cash is in search of a good investment. So some of this cash has found its way to RIL stock.

Stocks will continue to rise in nominal terms in-spite of Covid-19 scare for the same reason.

Aarogya Setu App in India

Aarogya Setu App is a mobile application is from the Government of India. The purpose of this app is Contact Tracing i.e. warn the owner about potential infection.
Lakhs of people are using this mobile App in India. The app has been mandatory in some parts of the country.

Some problems with this App are

• The app violates individual privacy. If I am near an infected person in a public area, the government will come to know about it. It can forcefully quarantine me.
• This App has been hurriedly developed. There is no "proof of concept". So it is likely that a non-infected person will be marked as infected. He/She may be forcefully quarantined by Government. In this Quarantine, he/she may get infected. Now, the Government will say, "See, our App works. We found an infected person with our App"
• The App is not open source. (The equivalent App used in Singapore is open source). So we have no idea about privacy violations by this App. We have no idea, which governments will be automatically alerted if I am near an infected person. We have to take the word of government regarding privacy issues. Now, how many people trust their government?
• The App uses GPS continuously. Many smartphones don't have a built-in GPS like GLONASS. It is not clear about how this app will work on these smartphones.
• The App uses Bluetooth continuously. Many smartphone users use Bluetooth for listening to music. It is not clear, whether music-listeners will still get to hear clear music after installing this app.
• Using GPS and Bluetooth continuously is a huge drain on the battery. People will have to carry power banks or charge their smartphones in shorter intervals.
• Many people in India don't carry a mobile phone. So how can it be made compulsory?
• Many people in India carry a feature phone like JioPhone. This app can't be installed on a feature phone.

So I would recommend

1. Don't install this App.
2. If you have to install this app, then tell the official that you don't have a smartphone.
3. If the officer insists on physically searching you, then show him a feature phone. Say that you don't carry any smartphone.
4. If the officer still insists on physically searching for a smartphone, then carry two smartphones. Install this app on one of the smartphones. Keep this smartphone in "Airplane mode" most of the time. Use it only for showing to officers that you comply with rules.
5. If you have only one smartphone and you are being forced to install this app, then disable the app after installation. Enable the app, only when you have show proof of compliance. Disable the app asap, after proving your compliance.

Anyone, who uses this app regularly is a moron.

Are Indians eunuchs?

The Indian government is extending lock-down. This is a violation of personal freedom of Indians. Why should Indians tolerate this injustice?

Break the lock-down now. Come out of your homes. Who can stop us? Police personnel is only a fraction of Indian citizens, in terms of numbers. They too will run when Indians come out in full might.

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is cooperating with it.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

How should countries combat Covid-19?

IMO the best way is:

• Everyone should wear a mask in public. No entry in any public transport or office, without a mask. People using trains/airplanes/buses should also be encouraged to wear protective eye glasses.
• Ban all social/religious/political/cultural/sports gatherings with certain exceptions e.g. Up to 20 people at a funeral. Up to 30 people at the marriage ceremony provided no food/drinks is served.
• Every organization itself plans to minimize the spread of the virus at their premises e.g. Corporates may close down the canteen and serve food at cubicles. No food at railway stations/airports and within trains/airplanes. Cinema halls will operate at lower occupancy. Restaurants will stop eat-ins and only have delivery.
• Students will learn from home. They will attend school/college only for activities that cannot be taught remotely.
• No crowding e.g. Malls will allow only a limited number of customers. Buses will not allow more than 10 people to stand.

Countries that closing down businesses and imposing curfew are unnecessarily damaging their economy. These countries are either stupid or have some secret agenda to hurt their citizens.

How to fight Covid-19?

The following acts are some long term measures:

• Wear a mask outside your home i.e. while walking on the road, while using public transport, while working amongst other people, etc. No need to wear a mask at home, while traveling with family in an AC car, etc; unless you are infected.
• All visitors to your home should wear a mask. They should wash their hand when they come into your house.
• Wash hands after returning home, after touching anything possibly infected, etc.
• Use hand-kerchief or elbow while sneezing, when not wearing a mask.
• Avoid touching other people outside your home e.g. Use Namaste instead of a handshake.

Lockdown of non-essential activities is a short term measure that can be used if the infection rate is very high in that area. It is not a long term measure.
India is currently under lock-down, even though the infection rate is unknown in India because very few tests have been conducted. India needs to

1. End the lockdown soon.
2. Conduct large scale testing.
3. Enforce mandatory masks in public transport, on roads, in offices, etc. People violating this rule should be punished.
4. Make face mask mandatory for people in gatherings e.g. Wedding ceremony, religious activities, construction activities, etc.

Convid-19 control in India

"Janata Curfew" of one day on 22-Mar-2020 will not be enough to slowdown the spread Covid-19 in India.
India needs

1. Mandatory use of mask or handkerchief
   • in crowded areas e.g. railway/airplane travelers, shopkeepers, mall employees, etc.
   • for employees working in public space e.g. railway ticket clerks, postmen, bank clerks, cleaners, etc.
2. Closure of non-essential gatherings malls, cinema halls, swimming pools, schools, colleges, temples, mosques, churches, gardens, playgrounds, restaurants, etc.
3. Reduction in GST for all equipment used to work from home e.g mobiles, data packs, broadband service, routers, etc.
4. Subsidized tests in government hospitals.
5. Criminal charge for any infected person traveling in public, without taking appropriate precautions.