Teacher-Turned-Politician Shailaja is a Corona Slayer, Read Why

From 300 positive Coronavirus cases about a month ago to 30 this week, Kerala has managed to flatten the curve brilliantly. Of the 503 total recorded cases, Kerala currently has only 16 active patients and has had 4 consecutive days with no new cases. The Indian state, known fondly as God’s own country, has a lot to credit its Health Minister K.K. Shailaja. She, for her exemplary leadership during the ongoing pandemic, has been named Corona Slayer.

The former teacher’s first concern was several Kerala students studying in Wuhan, China. To keep a track on their well-being, she set up 18 committees that reported to her every day. Staying away from the panic approach, she, in her daily press conferences, conveyed the clear message in a calm manner.

Social distancing was at priority but empathy for students from different background never took a backseat. Right after the schools were shut on March 10, mid-day meals were delivered to students' homes. Also, the use of face masks was promoted in schools and colleges from January 30.

The 63-year-old school teacher-turned-politician has won widespread praise for her plan as she and her team sprung into action in January after the initial outbreak in Wuhan. They worked on identifying signs, drew work-map, and imposed stringent quarantine rules on people coming from abroad.

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She, on successfully and efficiently handling India’s first three coronavirus positive patients from the state and setting an example, told HuffPost India, “Fighting an epidemic like Corona requires scientific temper, humanism and a spirit for inquiry and reform. Superstition, credulity, emotionalism and irrationalism will derail the whole process by dispiriting and discouraging the experts and health activists who try hard to resolve the threat scientifically. In Kerala, we have initiated stringent police action against those who attempted to spread stupidity in the face of virus scare. That was among the main reasons why Kerala made some early advantages in checking the spreading of the virus.’’

Kerala has given all of us hope by dipping to 33 hotspots from more than a 100 and with no new cases. "Today is the 100th day since the first case in India was registered in Kerala's Thrissur. In the first week of March, the second wave started in Kerala (with the arrival of returnees from the Gulf region). Two months later, we can say we have flattened the curve," said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.