As cases surge each passing day amid lockdown relaxation and there is a continuous exodus of inter-State migrants, the Government on Friday warned that the fight against corona is a long haul not of weeks and months but much beyond. It indicated that restrictions on peoples’ movement were no longer a solution to check virus spread given the economic considerations.

“Lockdown cannot go on forever, it was meant for a purpose which we have achieved to a very large extent. Now we have to make things difficult for the virus,” said Dr V K Paul, Chairman of Empowered Group 1 and head of the national task force on Covid-19 management.

“Goal will be to stop the spread with minimum deaths,” said Paul who is also the member of the Niti Aayog, at a Press briefing here.

“Fight against Covid-19 and its progress in India will depend not just on the behaviour of the virus but also containment measures at the government, community and individual level,” he added.

Paul also stressed that early detection of cases, effective contact tracing and testing would be the key to keep the Covid-19 cases and deaths under control in the coming days as the lockdown is now being relaxed.

“We have been able to keep the cases and mortalities to reasonable rates so far — so the key is to sustain the momentum we have gained as the lockdown measures are gradually eased,” he added. “But we have to understand that the lockdown cannot continue forever.”

He exhorted the people to seek early treatment and help others to fight the disease.

“It is unethical, immoral to stigmatise the disease, please ensure early care seeking, handwashing and social distancing etc. Goal is to stop the spread with minimum deaths,” he said.

While giving details on the availability of beds and PPEs and ventilators besides oxygen supply for the Covid-19 patients, Dr Paul also shared that the manufacture of diagnostic kits has begun. “Our indigenous capacity will be able to manufacture five lakh kits daily in the next 6-8 weeks. The ICMR has prepared viral culture, at least five companies and 4-6 scientists are working at national laboratories to develop vaccine.”