A Critical Review of the article ‘the Kerala model in the time of COVID19: Rethinking state, society and democracy’

This paper discusses Kerala's response to the COVID-19, particularly in the first wave of the pandemic. It addresses why the state is particularly economically and demographically vulnerable to a public health crisis. Through a scan of government guidelines, daily advisories, state news and social media, the paper analyses over 200 governmental measures taken in the first 100 days and how these measures potentially impacted transmission and other outcomes. Further, it describes the historical and contemporary political and social factors that have enabled the state to build its capacity for disaster preparation and response. Finally, it examines what has changed in the consequent waves of the pandemic and discusses the replicability of the "Kerala model".