Effectiveness of Government Policies in Controlling COVID-19 in India

The purpose of this study is to find the demographic factors which are responsible for the spread of COVID-19 and to suggest a measure to identify the effectiveness of government policies in controlling COVID-19. The study hypothesises that the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 patients depends on the urban population, rural population, number of persons aged more than fifty, the population density and poverty rate in the state. A log-linear model is used to test the stated hypothesis, with the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 patients up to period as a dependent variable and demographic factors as an independent variable. The regression result shows that out of the selected variables, only the urban population significantly impacts the total number of patients tested positive for COVID-19. Our study finds that the urban population significantly impacts the spread of COVID-19. On the other had the demographic factors like rural population, density, and age structure do not impact the spread of COVID-19 significantly. Thus the people residing in the urban areas face a more significant threat of COVID-19 as compared to the people in rural areas. The study identifies the Indian states which need greater effectiveness in the implementation of pandemic control policies. Our study finds that the urban population significantly impacts the spread of COVID-19. On the other had the demographic factors like rural population, density, and age structure do not impact the spread of COVID-19 significantly. Thus the people residing in the urban areas face a more significant threat of COVID-19 as compared to the people in rural areas. The study identifies the Indian states which need greater effectiveness in the implementation of pandemic control policies.