Spatial Heterogeneity in the Severity of COVID-19 Pandemic in India

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all states and union territories in India, but the spread of infections and the fatality rate across regions have been disproportionate. In this study, inequalities in the severity of the pandemic are examined for a 15-month period, covering both the first and second waves of the virus, using alternate measures based on the official estimates of deaths from COVID-19 as a ratio of all-cause mortality. The observed differences in the severity indicators are explained using socioeconomic, meteorological, and geographical factors. A comparison of severity ratios across states and over time gives a region-specific flavor of the severity of the pandemic and increases understanding of the pressure points in the health system. Our findings are helpful for public health professionals to develop control measures and plan environmental and health policies as an alternative strategy to respond to new COVID-19 outbreaks and prevent future crises. © 2023 Asian Development Bank.

Dietary Diversity during COVID-19 in India

The article reports the fi ndings on the changing dietary patterns of Indian households during COVID-19, based on an analysis of the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey. The impact of the pandemic on diet composition was most severe for the poor and the deprived, who substituted inferior cereals for expensive cereals and spent lower amounts on nourishing foods such as fruits and vegetables. © 2022 Economic and Political Weekly. All rights reserved.

Food Consumption Expenditures and the COVID-19 Pandemic in India

The COVID-19 pandemic led to lockdowns and disruptions in food supply chains and emerged as both a demand- and a supply-side shock. Based on the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy– Consumer Pyramids Household Survey monthly expenditure data for the period from January 2019 to August 2021, changes in food expenditure shares in India as a result of the pandemic across income and socio-economic and demographic groups are examined. The pandemic-induced lockdowns resulted in a sharp increase in the share of food in the total expenditure across rural and urban India for all income groups and castes and religions, but the intensity of shifts varied. © 2022 Economic and Political Weekly. All rights reserved.