Bloomberg News spoke to more than a dozen front-line physicians across India, and while none reported the sort of spike in patients with respiratory ailments that would suggest Covid-19 is already running rampant, all agreed it’s just a matter of time — and that India isn’t ready.

“ Without exception, the non-life insurance sector is severely burdened and we are afraid we will have difficulty in meeting certain regulatory requirement,” said M N Sarma, secreatry general , GI Council, in its letter to the IRDAI adding that the IRDAI may relax the minimum solvency requirement of 1.5 times for the time being on the same lines as the regulator had relaxed at the time of dismantling motor third party pool.