Pratiman Uniyal
As many as 5,839 people have died globally from Coronavirus (COVID-19) in less than 90 days and the number of total infected has soared to 1,56,770 creating panic and fear among the general public. First reported in the Hubei province of China, the deadly virus rapidly engulfed the whole country. Simultaneously, the virus spread to other countries reaching even to Hawaii in the US.
While China has reported declining trend in new infections, the virus has become a menace in other countries especially South Korea, Iran, Italy and Spain. The World Health Organization (WHO) has termed Europe as the new epicenter of the virus. This prompted US to suspend flights with Europe substantially quarantining itself. Many countries have shut down cities and towns and declared national emergency to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
Some of the squares and streets in the world that symbolized life and vivacity are now deserted. It’s scary situation both inside and outside home. The world seems to be in the grip of fear comparable with war time. Given the loss of lives and impending fear in people globally, the COVID-19 epidemic is indeed another tragic milestone after the Second World War.
What is COVID-19
COVID-19, the Novel Coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China in December last year, is part of the Coronavirus family that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), according to the WHO.
It is highly contagious and being a respiratory virus it can spread through respiratory/cough droplets from nose or mouth and being a little heavy as compared to the other viruses it can travel up to only few feets.
One can prevent getting infected by washing hands frequently with soap and water and every time one has touched a potentially infected surface. One needs to maintain a distance from the person who seems to be sick. Also, it is advised to cover your mouth with your elbow when sneezing or coughing. Maintaining social distance of at least one meter and avoiding touching your face, mouth and eyes can go a long way in keeping the disease at bay.
How things are in India currently and the measures Centre is taking
In India the situation has gone downhill from the past 11 days when Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on March 4 confirmed that the total cases of Coronavirus jumped to 28. Ever since, fresh cases have been reported from different parts of the country with the total now mounting to 105 positive cases out of which 10 people have been fully recovered (as on March 15, 2020).
Desperate times need desperate measures and Centre has been taking measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in India.
Centre has already announced COVID-19 as notified disaster for the purpose of providing assistance for medical facilities under the State Disaster Response Fund.
Many states including Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Uttarakhand have imposed restrictions by ordering shutdown of schools, colleges, cinema halls, auditoriums, gyms, public swimming pool and ban on social gatherings including weddings, birthday parties and conventions.
What could worsen the situation
Given the creaky public health infrastructure in the country and high population density, higher than even China, any sizeable increase in the number of Corona cases could multiply the challenges. The government move to suspend visas for foreigners barring few and virtually cutting off the country temporarily is appreciable as this shows human lives are priority.
Now that the number has suddenly spiked, government should raise its surveillance level. Those flying into the country must be thoroughly examined for the virus symptoms so that the suspected people are sent to quarantine facilities from airport itself.
Another key task at the hand of the government is to prevent the spread of infections into the rural areas. Once it crosses the city boundary and reach villages which do not have even primary health centres, the situation could go out of control. In the meantime, there should be extra emphasis on awareness about the virus spread and Do’s and Don’t’s be displayed at all public places.
As per information published by various health authorities, the key guidelines are as follows.
If someone from your family is tested positive:
- Don’t panic if medicos want to shift the person to isolation ward of hospital.
- Other contacted members will also be asked to be in isolation at their home or facility as decided by city administration for at least 14 days. If symptoms occur, contact immediately for Corona test from notified agency and hospital.
- Inform your friends, relatives, neighbors, office persons etc that you are in isolation or tested positive.
- Even if you have not shown any symptoms but were in contact of any positive tested person, DON’T attend any public gathering or go for shopping or entertainment. Prohibit travel by public transport till the time minimum 14 days isolation period is over and Hospital or administration has allowed you to do so.
Common precautions one needs to take when using any public transport – Bus, Auto, Cab, Metro, Train (long distance)
- Use face mask till the time of travel.
- Wipe your hands with hand sanitizer before boarding any transport.
- Try not to touch the hand railings, seat, window panes, etc with your hand. You can use hanky/tissue paper if you have to touch or hold any of these. Try your foot, which is normally in shoes, to open door or to balance yourself in case you are travelling in standing position.
- Again wipe your hands after getting down.
When in any restaurant:
- Try not to touch the table, seats, window panes, doors with your hand. You can use hanky if you have to touch or hold any of these.
- Try to order without using menu card, it is not the time to see dishes in menu, you are smart enough to order your previous best.
- If it is a self-service restaurant, then preferably do not touch the serving tray. Usually they are made of plastic and are just wiped with kitchen cloth. You can pick your burger and cold drink in hand. If it is lunch or dinner then you can disinfect the spoons or forks with utensil wipes.
- Try to make payment through online wallet or try and put currency notes on the table without touching any one. Try to avoid Credit/debit card as it will expose you to the machine which is touched by others while inputing the PIN number.
When at home
- Maintain self hygiene by bathing daily and washing clothes even worn once (if gone outside).
- Use floor disinfectant (phenyl) daily.
- Instruct housemaid to wash hand with soap and water before entering house and use sanitizer before leaving.
- Avoid meeting or inviting friends, relatives, neighbors who have in the recent past visited any foreign country.
28 confirmed cases of coronavirus in India: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan