1.5 crore Covid-19 tests and counting
Uttar Pradesh is very close to the milestone of 1.5 crore Covid- 19 tests and will cross it on November 1 (Sunday), marking a first by any state in the country. The state has been testing 1.5 lakh samples every day for more than two months now with a healthy mix of RT-PCR, Rapid Antigen and TrueNat tests. At one point of time, the state was among the bottom half of the heap, but with concerted and continuous efforts it is the leader in the country now for a long time.
Despite being the most populous state, UP has managed to keep its positivity rate below 5% throughout. This is the seventh week running when cases of active infection have been coming down in the state, pushing the recovery rate to more than 93.6% which is higher than the national recovery rate.
The chief minister has led the battle against the pandemic from the front. With a strong leadership at the helm of affairs, the state has not only managed the pandemic well but has also presented a model for large geographies so far. The number of deaths, due to the disease, has also been very limited with a CFR of under 1.46% and every effort is being made to bring it down further.
Many healthcare workers, police personnel in the containment zones, sanitary workers and other frontline workers have got infected and some have lost their lives too during their efforts to save the infected patients but the battle continues unabated. We must take a bow!
This virus has baffled the entire world as it fails to be vanquished by changes in temperature or humidity. A vaccine does not look too far away now with many candidates being tried out. Many vaccines are in the phase two and some in the phase three trial stage and everybody is keenly waiting for good news.
To reduce the severity of a likely second wave, we have started focussed testing of likely spreaders.
Though the rate of positivity has come down to approximately 1.5% in October, there is no let-up in testing.
This virus is literally following the Darwinian principle of survival of the fittest and making the weak and sick its prey. Hence it is extremely important that we protect ourselves. Hand washing, covering mouth and nose in public and maintaining a social distance of two yards are our best defences against this virus.
Taking steps to boost immunity like practising yoga and pranayaam and having homemade kadhaa, doodh haldi, neem leaves and warm water is also helpful. After all, isn’t prevention the best cure?