Written by Tiara Jain, a grade 7 student in Mumbai

The Novel Coronavirus pandemic has spread all over the world and has taken the lives of many people. This virus has affected India as well, but one state in India has not reported a single case of the novel coronavirus. A state (or UT) with no cases of the virus can be shocking, but it is the truth. This could be because they followed all the safety measures strictly. The Union Territory with no cases of the Novel Coronavirus is Lakshadweep.

The truth is that even though all other states had taken some preventive measures, they still have been affected terribly. So, the question is, how did Lakshadweep manage to control it, even though ships and aircraft are ferrying the people? They have taken all the preventive measures, such as maintaining social distancing, banning the entry of outsiders, checking returning residents, stopping devotees from attending Friday masses at the church, etc.

Lakshadweep’s authorities are in touch with health officials from the mainland, and they have readied an evacuation plan in a passenger ship. If necessary, the Coast Guard and Navy are also there. An evacuation plan by helicopters was not put in place because of social distancing. The authorities acted fast and procured medicines and essential items in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. This is the reason why there are no cases in this state. Also, in my opinion, Lakshadweep has a sufficient number of masks and sanitizers. Strict screening has helped Lakshadweep. Dr. Muneer, a physician and Vice President, Minicoy Village Dweep Panchayat, said that if the pandemic hits Lakshadweep, then they would not be able to handle it. This is why in March they stopped all ships and checked the passenger’s temperatures by screening who were returning to the island. The people who came from abroad were quarantined, and the people who went back to their houses from Kochi had to stay quarantined once they reached their respective islands.

If all the states would have followed similar safety measures, then probably they would have had lower cases.

Written by Tiara Jain, a grade 7 student in Mumbai

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