The Kerala Way

Context – In COVID crisis, Kerala has shown the whole world a path how to manage the pandemics.

Kerala’s successful response to COVID-19

• Kerala has the lowest mortality rate as well as the highest recovery rate with respect to coronavirus infections.
• The number of tests conducted in Kerala is just 10% of the figures for countries such as the US
• Kept large number of people under observation and conducted aggressive contact tracing to avoid the community spread. (90% of the positive cases were detected among people kept under observation)

Comparative analysis of New York and Kerala

• Population: Kerala is 33 million and New York is 19 million. 
• Per capita income: Kerala is $2,937 and New York state is $88,981. 
• Hospital Beds: 1.8 hospital beds for every 1,000 people in Kerala and in New York it is 3.1 beds.
• Doctors: Kerala has 1.7 doctors per 1,000 persons and New York has 3.8 doctors.

Reasons for successful handling of the crisis

• Stellar human development indices: Robust local governance, effective social structure and well-knit multi-layered public health structure.
• Close collaboration with its people: a close interconnect between the layers of administration and people
• Real-time auditing and Emphasis on public education and public health.
• Preference for state run institutions over private enterprises

Way Forward

• With such results Kerala has attracted worldwide attention and should not miss new opportunities coming its way in this fast changing world.