Editor's Pick: The limits of a 'Test, Track, Treat' strategy

(The Editor's Pick is a new newsletter from The Hindu that provides a snapshot of the most important stories from today's edition of our newspaper, along with a note from our top editors on why we chose to give prominence to these stories.)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spelt out India's strategy for dealing with the second wave of infections as 'Test, Track, and Treat'. In an address to Chief Ministers, the PM virtually ruled out lockdowns on a scale that was put in place during the first wave. Instead, he focused on testing and tracing in micro-containment zones. He also struck a conciliatory note in the ongoing tussle between the Centre and States such as Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh that have high case numbers, by saying that States should not bother about criticism.

Regarding vaccines, the PM stuck to the Centre's message on vaccinating only those who are eligible, which now means those above 45 years of age. On the allegation of vaccine shortage raised by several States, he responded by projecting vaccination as a long process that can proceed parallel to the containment efforts. Such a drawn-out vaccination drive will be in contrast with other nations that are focusing on quickly reaching a critical mass of inoculated persons to stem the spread of the virus. However, India's strained vaccine production lines make an expanded vaccination drive improbable now.

The PM's focus on micro-containment comes on a day on which India hit another peak in daily case numbers — over one lakh a day. Though there is no proven scientific link yet, this unprecedented spike is said to be due to new variants of the virus that are able to break through the immunity built up by earlier infections. One of these variants, the double-mutant one which is said to be the prime driver of the second wave, has now been named as B.1.617. While the PM has chalked out a strategy that seeks to avoid a major lockdown and its economic consequences, the new variant could put paid to such hopes. These mitigating factors to the new strategy announced by the PM are what make this story important.

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