PM Narendra Modi's public presence during two Covid-19 pandemic waves

Three charts look back at the Prime Minister's engagements through the two Covid waves and series of lockdowns since March 2020

The lowest point in India’s coronavirus infection curve came on February 11, 2021. By then, most activities in the country were open in an almost unrestricted manner. Ten days into this, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) passed a resolution saying the country had defeated Covid under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During these 10 days, however, the weekly average of new Covid-19 cases was up 16 per cent from the February 11 low. Deaths were up 5 per cent.

Three weeks later, the test positivity rate was moving north. From the comfortable range of 1 to 2