The combined population of India and Indonesia stands at 1.7 billion making it close to one third of the total people living on the planet. The pandemic which is causing pandemonium the world over, Covid 19 has hit these two countries just recent as reported by the respective nations. However, while India is in lock down Indonesia is not.

Cases are low compared to the size of the population but there is doubt on the numbers coming out from Prime Minister Modi and Presiden Jokowi’s government. India has recorded 8356 positive cases with Indonesia now 4341 but the death rates are increasing at an alarming rate. In a single day India declared 31 deaths bringing the total to 273 meanwhile in Indonesia 46 deaths occurred within 24 hours totaling to 359. That’s an average of 4% and close to 8% respectively, Malaysia is at 1%. WHO needs to quickly focus in these two countries and mete out stricter guidelines for them to follow. There are a few reasons why the world need to pay attention here, firstly can you imagine if India with its population of 1.3 billion with mostly living in impoverished areas that is poor in sanitation, lack medical facilities, densely populated and if an outbreak occurs in of these slumps? The result will be catastrophic, the already congested public hospitals will be overwhelmed and death rates will soar. Indonesia is not far off from this scenario, Jakarta the main city with high number of cases is at the cusp of a full blown spread it Jokowi does not act quickly.

Delhi acted late on the lock down with Modi announcing a possible extension, Indonesia will be tightening the control over its citizen warning on the repercussions for the upcoming Ramadan month where thousands make an exodus back to their hometown. United States currently has the most number of cases with over 500,000 and deaths reaching above 18,000, this can be a fraction if India and Indonesia lose the plot and let things go our of control.