bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Amrit Dhillon

Just days after India marked a year since its first reported Covid-19 case, the country seems to be hurtling into the light after a long spell inside a dark tunnel. Some hospitals in the capital, New Delhi, have no coronavirus patients. Markets are full of masked shoppers. People meet in cafes and restaurants, at tables set a cautious distance apart. The more risk-averse socialise outdoors, on their terraces and balconies.
Students are returning in batches to universities, and some classes in schools have begun again. Cinemas, with protocols in place, reopened on Monday at full capacity. Wedding planners, hung out to dry for a year, have swung back into action. Flights to most parts of the country are full.
Across the country, there is a prevailing and unmistakable feeling of normality. The figures say it all – the peak of the pandemic was from September 14-20, when the country recorded its highest weekly death toll of 8,175 deaths, but the last week of January saw the weekly death toll fall to fewer than 1,000.
India will make more home-grown coronavirus vaccines available, Modi tells World Economic Forum
On Sunday, India registered some 11,000 fresh cases in 24 hours. According to the Health Ministry, no case has been reported in 146 of the 739 districts for more than a week.
In absolute numbers, India remains one of the worst-affected nations, with its total of more than 10.76 million Covid-19 cases placing it second only to the United States. But given its population of 1.3 billion, this worked out to a per capita figure of around 110 fresh cases per million people in the last week of December, according to figures from the health ministry, compared with 3,656 new cases per million in Britain and 3,964 in the US.
“With caution, I would say that the pandemic is under control,” said Professor Dileep Mavalankar, director of the Indian Institute of Public Health in Gandhinagar, the state capital of Gujarat. “It is now restricted to a few areas. Out of over 700 districts, 50 account for 60 per cent of cases and deaths, so it is on the way out, but its distribution is very uneven.”

For those Indians who were irrationally and unscientifically unconcerned with the coronavirus, even as it wreaked havoc and death across the world, the latest figures are seen as a sort of vindication.
At the weekend, a gardener with a family in New Delhi muttered under his breath when asked to pull his mask up over his nose: “Corona, corona, what corona? Everyone I know is healthy and fine. It’s a big fuss about nothing.”
His employer, Asha Reddy, said he was not the only sceptic. “Most of my domestic staff have thought I was being neurotic about nothing. I am sure they have only been wearing masks to humour me,” she said.
Certainly, Covid-19 has kept springing surprises. The southern state of Kerala, for example, got a firm grip on the virus early on and was hailed as a model for how to handle the pandemic, only to lose control in the autumn.
India presents budget to revive economy after coronavirus slump, including twice as much spending on health care
Yet while the disease rages in Kerala – which currently has some 40 per cent of the country’s active cases – there were huge rallies in Bihar during state elections from October to November, with no upsurge in cases. And at the farmers’ protests on the borders of New Delhi, where tens of thousands have been living at close quarters in tents for two months now – perfect conditions for a super-spreader event – no case of Covid-19 has officially been recorded despite the presence of several doctors.
“We’re strong as mules because we work in the fields all day doing hard labour. We’re tough. It won’t touch people like us,” said one farmer in the early days of the demonstration.
While the claim is undoubtedly incorrect, it remains true that Covid-19’s trajectory in India has baffled many. Urban slums did not become houses of horror. Vast areas of the countryside have not been ravaged. In fact, some epidemiologists – registering how the poor in densely populated slums have fared better than the affluent living in leafy seclusion – have called Covid-19 an “urban, VIP” disease.

Health authorities are unsure why some of the early predictions of calamity have not come to pass. One explanation from public health experts is that Indians’ immune systems – exposed as they have been to multiple bacteria and viruses from childhood, owing to poor sanitation – have been better able to handle the coronavirus.
Another is that the country has a relatively young population, with 65 per cent of the population aged under 35. Or, perhaps India is close to reaching herd immunity, something its densely crowded neighbourhoods might have helped it achieve faster than expected. A serological survey a week ago of residents in a New Delhi district showed that 50-60 per cent of them had developed antibodies to Covid-19, up from 25.5 per cent in October.
But although the coronavirus looks as though it is on the ropes in most of India, it is by no means history. The state of Maharashtra, in the country’s west, is experiencing a surge in the disease, with 2,585 new cases reported on Sunday. In Kerala, police are out in the streets to enforce stricter social restrictions – including an evening curfew on car movement and penalties for public gatherings – until February 10. Those two states account for two-thirds of all active cases in the country.
Coronavirus: five dead after fire hits world’s biggest vaccine maker in India
India’s nationwide vaccination programme has reached more than 3.5 million people, but it needs to pick up momentum if the government’s aim of inoculating 300 million people by August is to be achieved.
Moreover, public health officials say they cannot rule out a second wave as schools and universities reopen. Much depends on how closely Covid-19 precautions are followed. Experts also fear that as the caseload continues falling, people may let down their guard before the vaccination campaign has had time to make a dent on transmission.
In fact, Mavalankar from the Indian Institute of Public Health in Gandhinagar has written, in his personal capacity, to the health ministry, arguing that it should alter its vaccination strategy.
“If we focus on vaccinating people in those 50 districts [that account for 60 per cent of cases] first, instead of rolling it out even in districts where there are no cases, we would stand a better chance of achieving herd immunity earlier,” he said.


Does India really have a handle on the coronavirus, after all the dire predictions?

Indian commuters crowd the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, India, on February 1. Photo: AP

An empty Covid-19 testing centre at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. Photo: Amrit Dhillon

Students wearing facemasks gather after schools for classes 9th and 10th reopened nearly ten months after the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Hyderabad on February 1, 2021. (Photo by NOAH SEELAM / AFP)

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While the country remains the second-worst-affected nation in terms of absolute infection numbers, its new cases per capita have slowed to well below the US and Britain
A year after its first reported case, some hospitals in New Delhi have no Covid-19 patients, and normality is prevailing – though Kerala and Maharashtra states are battling a surge



A year after its first reported case, some hospitals in New Delhi have no Covid-19 patients, and normality is prevailing – though Kerala and Maharashtra states are battling a surge.
