Covid is here to stay
However, the good news is that despite an uptick in cases in a few states, experts assure it is not indicative of a fourth wave as of now and no new variants of concern have been detected. But the bad news is that people would have to live with the coronavirus the rest of their lives just like other flu viruses and the only safeguard against it is to continue wearing masks, maintaining hand hygiene and avoiding crowds
Amid reports of an upsurge in covid cases in many states since the last couple of weeks, medical experts aver that though it cannot be said at this point that a fourth wave is likely, people should however brace up to live with coronavirus throughout their life and take precautions.
After around three months of hiatus, India started logging thousands of fresh cases daily. As per the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) data as on June 12, India has logged 8,582 new cases of Covid-19 and total active cases rise to 44,513.
‘BRACE UP TO LIVE WITH THE VIRUS LIFELONG’
Dr M Sheetal Kumar, senior consultant general physician and diabetologist at Yashoda Hospital says, “We are getting sporadic cases almost daily and this is going to be a lifelong trend as the virus is prevalent in the atmosphere, in an endemic form just like other flu viruses. Probably, after a decade, the virus may change structure and severity or the virulence may increase. As of now, the variants are still the Omicron sub-variants Ba 4 and Ba 5. People are getting symptoms almost similar to common cold and flu and not severe symptoms like those of the Delta wave in 2021. However, even this milder variant can be risky for the immune-compromised, co-morbid and elderly population.”
EXCESS TRAVEL-INDUCED MOVEMENT CAUSING THE RISE
Dr Kumar adds, “The sporadic increase in cases can be attributed to a manifold increase in domestic and international travel in the last few months. The airports, bus terminuses and railway stations are exceptionally crowded and this increase in movement, especially in metropolitan and bigger cities is leading to an escalation of new cases in certain districts. Unless there is data from all the smaller districts and villages about a simultaneous and considerable increase in new cases, we cannot say a fourth wave is likely. However, there are two conflicting possibilities in the present scenario.”
Elaborating on it, Dr Kumar continued, “Either, cases will come down when travel decreases after regular offices and schools reopen, or mildly infected and asymptomatic travellers who join regular offices and schools will spread the virus to others and therefore cases will escalate further. The government should make masks compulsory in schools, offices, public places like rail stations and airports and in all metropolitan cities.”
Dr Yogiraj Ray, associate professor, Infectious Diseases, Government SSKM
Hospital (IPGMER) assured that with a majority of the population already exposed to the coronavirus in the past and also vaccinated, chances of a severe covid wave like those of the first and second waves are unlikely even though new cases are increasing.
“The vast population is no longer covid-virgin as it was in 2020 and 2021. The covid cases occurring now are sporadic and limited to sore throat and cough or mild fever. Most people don’t require hospitalization or additional oxygen support and they are not hypoxic. Vaccination has reduced the severity of cases to a great extent. So, this increase in mild covid cases in a few cities cannot be equated with a new wave of coronavirus. Therefore, people need not panic and can continue with their routine works following a covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks and washing/sanitizing hands. Senior vaccinated citizens can take a booster dose.”
MASK UP & SANITIZE; THE GOOD OLD SAFEGUARDS
THE SPORADIC INCREASE IN CASES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A MANIFOLD INCREASE IN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THE AIRPORTS, BUS TERMINUSES AND RAILWAY STATIONS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY CROWDED AND THIS INCREASE IN MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN METROPOLITAN AND BIGGER CITIES IS LEADING TO AN ESCALATION OF NEW CASES
After the third wave (Omicron) subsided by February 2022, people have been complacent and most of them started flocking outdoors in overcrowded areas during the summer holidays without basic covid safety precautions like masks or faceguards. And inevitably, the covid case graph has started spiraling again since a fortnight. Keeping aside conjectures of a fourth wave and virulent mutations, the best safeguarding measures that people can take against corona-virus include wearing masks outdoors, washing and sanitizing the hands often and avoiding crowded places whenever possible. Also, if the government makes booster doses of vaccines compulsory, it should be taken, especially by senior citizens above the age of 60 years, advice health experts.
THE VAST POPULATION IS NO LONGER COVID-VIRGIN AS IT WAS IN 2020 AND 2021. THE COVID CASES OCCURRING
NOW ARE SPORADIC AND LIMITED TO SORE THROAT AND COUGH OR MILD FEVER. MOST PEOPLE DON’T REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION OR ADDITIONAL OXYGEN SUPPORT AND THEY ARE NOT HYPOXIC. VACCINATION HAS REDUCED THE SEVERITY OF CASES TO A GREAT EXTENT. SO, THIS INCREASE IN MILD COVID CASES IN A FEW CITIES CANNOT BE EQUATED WITH A NEW WAVE OF CORONAVIRUS.