First and foremost, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandavya should be hailed for his direct visit to assess the state of affairs in Kerala, which is still reeling under Covid. Usually on occasions like this no one bothers to come directly to states except to blame them from Delhi. Covid is not the only culprit in Kerala. Perhaps there are few other states with so many citizens who go and work abroad or in other states. In India, Covid was first reported in Kerala. The population density is also much higher than that of other states. At the same time, it is not wrong to ignore the fact that some carelessness and lapses in dealing with Covid have occurred here since the second Pinarayi government assumed power. The move was based on the notion that Covid could only be stopped by a lockdown. The government was prepared to change its policies and attitudes when there was no reduction in Covid expansion other than enduring the lockdown. It's only beginning to show results.

The CM-led team explained to the Union Health Minister that home isolation was possible due to the joint efforts of the Home and Local Government Departments. The Union Minister further lauded Kerala for reducing the death rate and not wasting the vaccine. The Union Minister's statement that there is no politics in the distribution of vaccines should be welcomed by all as a political change. This is a problem concerning human life. How many other controversies are there to politicise?
It is better not to mix politics with issues like disease which affects all sections of the people. The Union Minister also announced an additional assistance of Rs 14 crore to Kerala as part of the Emergency Covid Prevention Package. Accordingly, each district will get an additional Rs 1 crore. It is commendable that the Union Minister found time to visit the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital between his busy schedules.