April 25, 2020 THE DELIBERATION www.deliberation.in Page 1 Is Lockdown the Only Alternative to Respond to the Coronavirus Outbreak in India? Rajeev Kumar Upadhyay Published on 25 th April 2020 The Deliberation www.deliberation.in Abstract In short run, isolation, self-quarantine (lockdown) will prove very helpful and is the only alternative to contain the increase numbers of coronavirus patients. But lockdown is not a solution. It is just a tool to control the spread of virus and it must be applied carefully and a nationwide lockdown for long is not an option. Rather it should concentrate on all the specific areas with high daily positivity rate and should completely shut all the nonessential activities without compromise. But at the same time government has to keep the economy running and demand intact.