As the second wave of COVID-19 virus has caused havoc in the country India has reported the largest single-day spike on Friday with over 2.34 lakh new cases and more than 1,300 deaths in the last 24 hours.
According to the Union Health Ministry data, the number of active COVID-19 cases has crossed the 14-lakh mark. The medical experts have urged people not to take the situation lightly and follow all COVID-19 safety measures.
In an interview with a media house, Dr Sandeep Nayar, a respiratory expert at the BLK super specialty hospital said, “Virus is spreading very fast. It is infecting people in a minute. It was not the same last time. Earlier, it would take around 10 min exposure to catch the infection.”
He further states that now if a single member of the family tests COVID positive then inadvertently, despite all efforts at isolation, all the other members are getting the virus.
Speaking specifically about Delhi, Dr. Nayar shared, “People in the 30 to 40 years age group are the most affected by the virus in Delhi and it is because they are more in number and they are the ones moving around.”
An eroding fear and laxity in following COVID precautions are considered to be one of the major reasons for the surge in the number of coronavirus cases.
The virus is mutating and becoming stronger on hand and on the other hand, people are not taking the situation seriously. They are not wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and taking COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Shelly Singh, Senior Gynecologist at Rosewalk Sospital, says, “This wave of COVID is different from the previous ones. The virus, having mutated, is particularly infective. Not only are most contacts getting the infection despite the isolation of an infected member, but it’s infecting one much faster. Earlier, it was said around 15-20 minutes of contact was crucial for acquiring the infection; now some experts say it could be a few minutes only.”
“It also defies vaccination, though people acquiring the disease post vaccination, get a milder form of the illness. My suggestion is please, do not be lax in precautions we’ve been drumming you to take time and time again! Never ever step out without a mask, step out only when required, stay home and safe, mask up properly; wearing it on the chin or around your neck serves no purpose,” she added.
She further said, “Also please don’t be an ostrich in the sand should you have fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Please get yourself tested for COVID and stay isolated instead of mingling with people. Get yourself vaccinated at appropriate times too.”
We need to break the chain of transmission and we need to break it NOW!