Beyond the numbers: understanding the diversity of covid-19 epidemiology and response in South Asia

25, June 2021 |

Authors:

Abstract

South Asia was one of the first regions to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 through travellers in January 2020. However, the subsequent epidemic profile of covid-19 in the region varied considerably, as it did in Africa. After an initial rise, cases plateaued in all countries of South Asia except India, where the pandemic led to a steady rise in cases and deaths until the autumn of 2020. 1 Pakistan received praise for its early response to covid-19 and the organisation of a systematic health systems and social sector response. 2 After a relative quiescent period countries in South Asia, especially India, faced a big upsurge in cases and deaths in the spring of 2021, possibly related to the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant. 3 The region faces additional challenges. The economic downturn in India is both massive and unprecedented, with consequences for poverty and food insecurity. 4 Although Pakistan was able to launch a massive and successful early cash transfer scheme to blunt the effects of the lockdown on the poorest 16.9 million people, 5 it has limited fiscal space left to provide the additional $1.5bn (£1bn; €1.3bn) needed for continued support.