updated: May 02 2021, 07:24 ist
Wisdom and intuition might see us through routine situations in our lives but they are counterproductive for public health programmes.
It is scientific evidence which should guide the decisions which ultimately save lives in a public health crisis.
Last year, India went into a national lockdown when it had 500 cases. In retrospect, the public health response was a wise decision as the effective reproduction number (RT) the number of people infected from infected persons was its highest (3.75) on March 23, 2020.
A year later, despite a lower RT of 1.65, multiple super spreader events and poor compliance of appropriate behaviour, have resulted in the ongoing devastation we see around us Covid cases which touch a new high each day, increasing deaths and a shortage of medicines and oxygen.
Editor s note: Feed expected to start at 10am 30 April 2021 - 10:00 By TimesLIVE
The commission of inquiry into state capture will continue hearing Transnet-related evidence from the former group CEO Siyabonga Gama.
While giving testimony at the commission on Monday, Gama denied that former public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba influenced his appointment to further state capture.
His statement was a response to former board chairperson Popo Molefe who made the allegation.