We’re at the stage in the covid-19 journey where the fear of death is fast getting replaced by the fear of the healthcare system—at least in cities like Delhi that have seen flip flops by the state government and very poor use of the lockdown days to plan for the expected peak in June. The safety protocols that were in decline got a revisit as we got to know of people around us who got the disease. Their horror stories of dealing with the healthcare system scared us right back to self-isolation and the ritualistic cleaning and disinfecting after every visit outside the house.
But once fear sets in, it is difficult to shake off. The number of people pinging, mailing and calling me to figure out their Wills grew as our own taken-for-granted mortality became a question mark. Even if the disease does not kill me, joked a friend, the healthcare system in Delhi will.