Day Thirtythree

In his daily briefing, Trump said “I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute. . . . Is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning? Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that.” It was immediately met by worldwide ridicule. Reckitt Benckiser, the makers of Dettol and Lysol, have been forced to issue a strong warning telling people not to inject or drink disinfectant. What makes the leader of the most powerful country say such things? People are encouraged to speak like that in a brainstorming session. The most novel idea will not come from a domain expert, whose mind will be conditioned. It is wrong to take Trump's suggestion at face value. It is also a wrong forum for him to make such preposterous statements. 

The brilliant Harish Salve personally agrees that China is liable to pay damages, but doesn't see the suit winning in ICJ. The only hope is if rest of the world unites and puts China under such great economic distress that they are forced to sign a treaty. 

Meanwhile number of deaths have fallen in India during lockdown. Central Mumbai, home to some 12 million people, saw deaths fall by about 21% in March compared with the same month of 2019, according to municipal data. Deaths plummeted 67% in Ahmedabad over the same period. Apparently it is in large part attributable to fewer road and rail accidents. Accidents on India's roads killed more than 151,400 people in 2018, according to official data, the world's highest absolute number. Deaths are also less due to less crimes. Pathetic state of our country. 

 Now there are reports that the curve is likely to be flattened only by mid-May. So an extension of the lockdown by 2 more weeks is very likely. 

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