As the world continues to endure by the hands of Covid-19, successive waves of infections, new mutations and deteriorating economies have solely made issues worse.The Covid state of affairs is, nonetheless, regularly bettering in India, with the nation reporting round 1.3 lakh circumstances on Tuesday (June 1). The peak of the second wave was seen on May 6, the place the variety of circumstances crossed the 4 lakh mark.As there are rising considerations surrounding the B.1.617.2 pressure, first found in India, we have a look at how our neighbours, particularly SAARC international locations, are dealing with the pandemic. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was based in 1985. The member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. So, what measures every nation is taking to handle the rise in circumstances?BANGLADESHThe present state of affairs:Bangladesh continues to seal its borders with India, one thing that began on April 26. It will now stay that approach till June 13 no less than, owing to the considerations surrounding the B.1.617.2 pressure. It has already been confirmed that the variant has began spreading through group infections. People who haven’t travelled to India in latest instances have been discovered to have the B.1.617.2 pressure of Covid-19 an infection.Speaking solely with India Today on the present state of affairs in Bangladesh, Dhaka-based journalist Shuprova Tasneem says, “The cases in Bangladesh have been on the rise again since mid/late March, which is why a full lockdown was initiated again from April 14. While this did work to bring the cases under control, the positivity rate is stagnant at 9-10 per cent. The real cause of concern now is the districts bordering India. Six of them have already seen a surge in infections. So, for example, in the Natore district, the positivity rate was found to be 40 per cent and it was 35 per cent in the Naogaon district. There are worries that if transmission isn’t contained and if it reaches the more densely populated urban areas, the situation will become a lot worse.”The nation can also be beneath a nationwide lockdown that began on May 30 and can keep till no less than June 6. The each day an infection fee of the nation has risen to 10.11 per cent this week.State minister for public administration Farhad Hossain was quoted by the Dhaka Tribune as saying that the restrictions on motion will proceed throughout the nation till the each day an infection fee drops to five per cent. He additionally added that this was as per the recommendation given by the nationwide technical advisory committee.Shuprova provides, “In terms of handling the situation, the mixed messages regarding lockdown have been counterproductive. From April 14, we were in full national lockdown for two weeks. Technically, we are still under lockdown, but all the rules have been relaxed and are all but nonexistent. The health minister has spoken in favour of a stricter lockdown (no vehicles, no movement, etc) in the bordering districts but the local administration is yet to take any steps.”The numbers:Bangladesh has seen an enormous peak by way of circumstances and deaths due to Covid. Over the previous week, they’ve additionally seen a rise within the replica quantity (R). The R quantity is a approach of score coronavirus or any illness’s skill to unfold.The contemporary wave of infections has stretched Bangladesh’s healthcare system like by no means earlier than. The nation has vaccinated simply over 6 per cent of its inhabitants.On testing and vaccines, Shuprova opines, “The low rates of testing are a cause of concern, as well as the Serum Institute vaccinations that are no longer arriving even though they have been paid for. But we just received a small shipment of Pfizer vaccines from the Covax facility and the first consignment of 15 million Sinopharm vaccines is meant to arrive this month, so that has appeased vaccine worries to a certain extent.” Way ahead:Health officers in Bangladesh have appealed to their authorities to obtain extra vaccines contemplating the disappearing shares. The nation solely has round a million jabs left, that are principally AstraZeneca’s Covishield and the Sinopharm vaccines from China. While the nation is anticipating one other 100,000 jabs from Pfizer, it should nonetheless fall approach wanting precise wants.Bangladeshi international minister AK Abdul Momen has termed the vaccine state of affairs within the nation a “crisis” and was determined to get the vaccines from international locations just like the US, China, Canada, Russia, and the UK aside from India.This shortfall is because of a delay within the arrival of the third consignment from the Serum Institute which was anticipated to reach by March 2021. To higher put together themselves for the long run, the federal government has signed a non-disclosure settlement with China to buy Sinopharm vaccines and co-produce the identical inside Bangladesh. This follows the deal that the Bangladesh authorities signed with Russia to supply the Sputnik V vaccine.Shuprova feels that under-testing is a significant downside. “We definitely have a problem with under-testing. Although tests are available at public hospitals for free, people often don’t want to stand in long queues. Some places have also made online appointments compulsory, which is a deterrent. And private testing is, of course, expensive. So, it is likely that the real number of infections could be higher. But to be honest, we have not found any reports of the possibility of deaths being much higher than official counts, from hospitals, local officials, journalist interviews, etc.”BHUTANThe present state of affairs:”We will be wiped out if we can’t control the virus now,” mentioned a involved Bhutan prime minister when he addressed the nation final week.Prime Minister Lotay Tshering reminded his folks to observe all of the precautions and security tips as essential and iterated that Bhutan was feeling the consequences of the worsening state of affairs within the area and that there was no assure that the nation wouldn’t expertise an analogous surge as what India is at the moment seeing.The numbers:Bhutan has solely seen 1 loss of life up to now linked to Covid-19. But the priority has been in regards to the rise in R quantity. The variety of circumstances has additionally risen prior to now two weeks, although it’s nonetheless not a grave concern. Bhutan had regarded to have conquered the rise in circumstances in March when it declared zero lively Covid-19 circumstances twice on March 5 and 18. But, from April, issues have gone southwards for the nation. The nation has imposed localised lockdowns throughout districts, relying on the presence of group unfold. The nation solely began a nationwide vaccination program on the finish of March however has set super tempo in vaccinating its residents.Way ahead:As of April, the nation had already accomplished vaccinating 93 per cent of its grownup inhabitants, which is round 70 per cent of its inhabitants. While the smaller inhabitants has helped Bhutan transfer quick, the success of the ultra-efficient vaccination drive has been attributed to its citizen volunteers, or “desuups” who’ve been fast to spearhead the marketing campaign.Given the swiftness of their vaccination drives, Bhutan has been capable of hold its faculties and schools open.NEPALThe present state of affairs:Experts say Nepal severely underestimated the second wave which has been taking part in havoc with its folks and medical infrastructure. April and May noticed the nation hit new peaks that have been properly above double what the nation noticed in its first wave.The medical system has seen immense stress, with extreme shortage in availability of oxygen cylinders, ventilators, and ICU beds.Khagendra Dhakal, chairperson of the Nepal Policy Institute (NPI) and an Adjunct Professor on the King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, spoke solely to India Today on Nepal’s struggle towards Covid. He feels extra vaccines might have saved so many lives on this extreme second wave.”Nepal is very vulnerable due to the lack of vaccinations, putting the large population susceptible to severe diseases. I lost my mother-in-law who was in her late 50s last Thursday, and an inspirational youth leader Ujjwal Thapa died in his early 40s just today. Vaccines could have saved many precious lives. Most of the deaths in Nepal have occurred over the last month. The country is severely needing ICU beds, oxygen, ventilators, and other medical equipment.”Khagendra can also be deeply apprehensive in regards to the state of affairs outdoors Kathmandu, particularly within the rural belts of Nepal. “The rural population does not even have access to enough PCR testing facilities.”He strongly feels that classes learnt from the primary wave ought to have helped the federal government put together higher for the second wave, however these have been ignored. He thanks the efforts of Nepalese employees overseas who’ve pooled funds to assist procurement of oxygen cylinders and concentrators for Nepal residents, and the youth and social activists inside Nepal who’ve volunteered to assist these in misery by operating social campaigns and lobbying with worldwide companies to assist procure vaccines for the nation.He attributes the inner energy wrestle throughout the ruling get together to the lack of focus. “The ruling party, which won the elections with a two-thirds majority, has now split into three factions. As a result, in the middle of the pandemic, the country has plunged into a crisis and is facing a mid-term election instead of being united to fight the pandemic.”The numbers:Nepal has solely vaccinated round 2.5 per cent of its inhabitants. This is gravely inadequate when the nation has lower than 0.75 docs per 1,000 folks. Nepal has solely formally procured vaccines from India however has been hampered by the stoppage of vaccine exports from India, owing to home shortfall. April and May have been very troublesome for Nepal with each day circumstances recurrently hitting the peaks of seven,000-odd circumstances.Nepal has additionally seen a excessive variety of deaths on this second wave.The mild probably on the finish of the tunnel is that the R quantity has seen an honest dip prior to now two weeks. The case numbers and deaths normally observe go well with two weeks after the identical. But the nation continues to be seeing a positivity fee of near 37 per cent, down from a peak of 48 per cent.Way ahead:Things haven’t been easy with the prevailing political instability within the nation. There is an election that the nation should face quickly, and it can not occur until case numbers come beneath management.The present authorities has offered a price range of 1.64 trillion NPR ($14 billion) for the 2021-22 fiscal yr, with give attention to controlling the Covid-19 pandemic and recovering the financial system.”For the government, the priorities are saving lives from the pandemic, recovering the economy damaged in the epidemic, promoting social security and utilising public and private resources to boost the productive sector,” mentioned Nepal’s finance minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel.But, a authorities in disarray has not made issues simpler, with Nepal’s minister for well being and inhabitants saying the federal government was contemplating declaring a well being emergency as infections rise.Khagendra feels there are classes to be learnt, not from inside however from their neighbours. “If Nepal was to learn, Bhutan next door is the country to learn from. Our political leadership has failed to learn from Bhutan. Nepal has become a victim of mismanagement. Therefore, I urge all the political forces to make this pandemic the priority for now putting all differences aside.”AFGHANISTANThe present state of affairs: Reports point out that the B.1.617.2 Covid-19 pressure, first found in India, might now be spreading shortly throughout the nation. Many individuals who returned from India have proven extreme signs and are critically sick. The Guardian studies that at Kabul’s most important Covid hospital, the place all 100 beds are occupied, as much as 10 folks die on daily basis. Most of those returned from journeys to India.It can also be unhappy to notice that services to check for the B.1.617.2 variant should not but obtainable in Afghanistan. This was revealed by well being ministry’s spokesperson Dastagir Nazari.This is just about the case throughout all districts which have seen an inflow of individuals from different international locations, most notably India. Several airways proceed to recurrently function between Kabul and Delhi.The numbers:Afghanistan’s well being ministry has introduced the shutdown of all private and non-private universities and faculties throughout 16 provinces, together with Kabul, beginning May 29 till no less than June 12. This is owing to the latest surge in case numbers and replica quantity (R). The variety of deaths has additionally risen in latest days.As of in the present day, Afghanistan has vaccinated round 590,000 residents, excluding its army forces. Further progress has been gradual attributable to lack of vaccines. Way ahead:First, Afghanistan is seeking to limit worldwide flights coming into Kabul from different nations. That is a method of arresting the rise in new circumstances. Second, like each different nation, Afghanistan is ready for the following batch of vaccines to allow extra of its residents to get jabbed.Considering households in Afghanistan celebrated the Eid ul-Fitr vacation collectively, it’s a on condition that the nation is seeing lots of circumstances now. It additionally concerned expats dwelling overseas travelling into the nation, together with from India.PAKISTANThe present state of affairs:On May 29, Pakistan detected its first in-country case of the B.1.617.2 variant. This ought to set the alarm bells ringing prefer it has throughout Asia and past. If official figures are to be believed, Pakistan’s third wave to this point has not been dangerous as in comparison with its different waves and definitely not as dangerous as that of a number of the different nations within the area. But issues might shortly escalate if the B.1.617.2 pressure spreads quick.Sharing his views on how Pakistan has dealt with the second wave, Abdul Basit, a journalist and a analysis fellow on the RSIS-NTU, Singapore, instructed India Today, “Cases were rising in Pakistan in mid-April and early May, resulting in a lockdown. As a result, cases have gone down in Pakistan. Progressively, businesses and educational institutions are opening in Pakistan with safety measures. Pakistan has also opened vaccinations for the population above the age of 18.”The numbers:In March and April, Pakistan noticed a positivity fee of over 11 per cent, resulting in the imposition of strict measures that included closing down of colleges, schools, market locations, public areas and parks, marriage ceremony halls, eating places, public transport plus mass gatherings, particularly throughout the Eid ul-Fitr pageant. In May, the positivity fee dropped all the way down to 9 per cent and went additional down to five per cent as per obtainable knowledge. It is similar with respect to the R quantity and each day new circumstances. Last week, the Sindh authorities imposed further restrictions to arrest the third wave case numbers. It is vital to notice that the Sindh area had contributed near 50 per cent of all lively circumstances within the nation as of final week. Hence, faculties and schools have additionally been closed.Way ahead:Pakistan has vaccinated near 4.7 million folks, which is round 2.12 per cent of its inhabitants. It nonetheless must do much more to cowl a bigger share of the inhabitants, particularly contemplating the menace posed by the B.1.617.2 variant.In phrases of the variety of folks vaccinated, it’s shocking to see that Bangladesh has vaccinated extra folks than Pakistan as of in the present day by overlaying 5.82 million folks.Abdul reiterates that the latest discovery of the B.1.617.2 variant is a priority. “Pakistan’s relief can end up in smoke if precautionary measures are not followed judiciously. The concerning issue is that a case of the B.1.617.2 variant has been reported in Pakistan. If this variant does not spread, Pakistan seems in a comfortable position, as of now.”SRI LANKAThe present state of affairs:On May 20, Sri Lanka determined to shut its borders to worldwide vacationers for a interval of 10 days to stem the steep rise in numbers in its newest wave. As of May 29, Sri Lanka has vaccinated near 7 per cent of its inhabitants.The island nation has been going through a pointy rise in Covid-19 infections throughout the previous month as well being consultants warned that the B.1.617.2 variant was quick spreading throughout all of the districts. This compelled the Sri Lankan authorities to impose strict journey restrictions throughout the nation from May 20, with solely important companies being allowed to function.Prasad Welikumbura, a social activist and a political commentator primarily based in Colombo, feels issues might have been dealt with higher by the Sri Lankan authorities.He was deeply involved in regards to the steep second wave Sri Lanka is experiencing. He instructed India Today, “Currently, we are facing the largest healthcare crisis since independence. But our government hasn’t seemed to grasp the magnitude of the issue. They are more concerned about politics and PR than rolling out a proper Covid prevention plan.”The numbers:The nation has seen a really extreme wave this time round with each day new case numbers seeing near 2,500 circumstances each day. The positivity fee continues to be near 14 per cent with the identical seeing a hike prior to now few days. Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has criticised the federal government for delaying the vaccination drives throughout the island nation. He accused some middlemen of creating earnings on the expense of the general public. With the nation already going through some shortages of vaccines at its disposal, Wickremesinghe additionally warned that vaccines donated to the COVAX facility by member nations with extra jabs shall be decreased going ahead as these nations are gearing as much as vaccinate youngsters over 12 years of age. Given this actuality, Sri Lanka will be unable to vaccinate all residents till the tip of 2022, he mentioned.Prasad provides he doesn’t see an efficient vaccination mechanism put in place anytime quickly. “There are a considerable number of people who have received the 1st dose of the Covishield vaccine, but the government failed to provide them with the 2nd dose. Though the government denies the possibility of community transmission of the B.1.617.2 variant, we can’t rule out that it can somehow find its way here like the B.117 variant.”Sri Lanka is now seeing an R variety of round 1.07.Way ahead:While rushing up the vaccination drives has not been simple, Sri Lanka might even see additional criticism from its opposition due to a report claiming that the nation is paying $15 per dose for the Sinopharm vaccine, which is $5 larger than what Bangladesh paid.This disclosure has ruffled feathers, and this has instantly been denied by the provision and regulation of prescription drugs state minister for Sri Lanka, Channa Jayasuma. The minister mentioned he was knowledgeable by the Chinese Embassy and the Sinopharm firm that there was no such settlement to offer the vaccine at $10 for Bangladesh.Director-general of well being companies Dr Asela Gunawardena additionally defended the federal government’s procurement worth, saying that they had obtained the Sinopharm vaccines on the minimal price.Prasad feels that the Sri Lankan authorities must cease wanting on the financial system alone and give attention to saving the lives of its residents. “What they keep forgetting is that the economy can be rebuilt, but you can’t bring back the people if they are dead. Even when you look from the economic perspective, though they are trying to aid the larger corporations to get through the current economic clout, they have forgotten the SMEs who have suffered a huge blow.”On the opposite hand, the federal government has come beneath heavy scrutiny and criticism for rolling out lockdown tips in probably the most complicated type there’s and has additionally been accused of ethnic profiling. The complicated tips have been from the communications arm of the state. The resolution to impose strict journey restrictions simply forward of the three-day Eid weekend was purely discriminatory, claims parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman. The delay in imposing lockdowns when case numbers began to rise throughout early April has additionally been talked about as a failure on the federal government’s half in listening to the consultants.This together with the controversies surrounding the permission for Muslims to bury their useless on a distant island alone (inhabited by Tamil Catholics) has all contributed to lots of unhappiness amongst its minorities on this troublesome interval. The authorities must get its act collectively and struggle the pandemic as one nation.MALDIVESThe present state of affairs:President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, has appointed delegates to every of the nation’s atolls. The native councils and process forces can attain out to those delegates to request localised help.The third wave of an infection has been very extreme on the island nation, with its tourism business being impacted once more. There might be no comparability between the third wave and the earlier two waves within the nation because the numbers this time round are very excessive.The state of affairs has now resulted within the nation imposing extreme restrictions on motion throughout its atolls. There shall be strict curfews in place from 4pm to 8am.The spokesman for the President’s workplace, Mabrook Azeez, instructed Reuters: “Especially due to the situation in India, which is traditionally the biggest source country, we are finding it difficult to hire new medical professionals to deal with the increased caseload.”The numbers:The nation continues to be seeing near 1,000 circumstances every day. The R quantity has seen a slight dip prior to now week and the island nation is hoping for this to proceed. It appears just like the 16-hour curfew has had a slight impression on these numbers. Close to 46 per cent of its inhabitants have had each doses of vaccine.As the nation depends very closely on its tourism sector, the federal government has ensured that near 97 per cent of its resort workers acquired a primary vaccine dose and 56 per cent of them are absolutely inoculated. Way ahead:Maldives has been administering vaccines from Sinopharm and AstraZeneca. The B.1.617.2 pressure has additionally performed its half within the speedy unfold of an infection on this third wave. This has resulted within the doubling of infections amongst youngsters, not like the earlier waves within the nation.The restrictions have been extreme ever because the nation opened throughout the month of Ramadan. Only two family permits are allowed for every residence, of which one allow will enable the resident to exit between 8am and 12pm, the opposite allow holder might exit between 12pm and 4pm.These restrictions have resulted in case numbers coming beneath 1,000 and it ought to see extra enhancements as extra folks get vaccinated.(The author is a Singapore-based Open-Source Intelligence analyst)