COVID-19 Notes
By Dr. Satish K Gupta*
India was at the centre of the global COVID crisis this time last year
Masks are back in public places as cases of COVID-19 infections rise in India.
India’s tally of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases almost doubled on April 18, 2022, from the previous day, hitting 2,000 for the first time in a month. Kerala also reported a big jump in COVID deaths.
Remember India was at the centre of the global COVID crisis this time last year. But the situation improved since then and most precautions including the wearing of masks have recently been dropped. But cases have been creeping up in the country.
Authorities reported 2,183 new infections on April 18, taking the running total to more than 43 million, according to health ministry data. A large number of mild cases diagnosed by rapid antigen tests at home remain unreported.
The country recorded 2,067 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours and a rise in deaths by 1.21% (40 deaths) in the 24 hours ending 8 am today.
The daily positivity rate was at 0.49 per cent while the weekly positivity rate stood at 0.38 per cent.
Global Burden
Global confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 500 million.
Global confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic have passed 500 million. More than 6 million people around the world are confirmed to have died of COVID-19.
Which Variant is driving the 4th Wave?
It comes as the highly contagious BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron continues to drive cases across Europe and Asia.
The BA.2 variant now makes up about 86% of all sequenced cases globally, according to the World Health Organization. It is known to be more transmissible than the BA.1 and BA.1.1 Omicron sub-variants.
The evidence so far, though, suggests BA.2 is no more likely to cause severe disease.
How to treat?
Most cases are improving with Symptomatic management with Paracetamol Cough Syp at home in 3 to 5 days’ time.
Scientists continue to emphasize vaccines are critical for avoiding the devastation the virus can cause.
How is the world responding to new challenges?
It comes as the US extends its COVID-19 public health emergency for at least three more months. A mandate requiring travellers to wear masks on aeroplanes, trains and in transit hubs has also been extended by 15 days to May 3, 2022.
Shanghai reported a record number of symptomatic COVID-19 cases three days back. Other areas across China tightened controls as the country kept up its “dynamic clearance” approach that aims to stamp out the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
The day after India saw a 90 per cent jump in daily cases, the Union Health Ministry yesterday directed three states and Delhi to enforce adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour with particular emphasis on wearing masks in crowded areas.
Delhi on April 19, 2022, recorded 632 fresh Covid-19 cases with a marginal drop in the positivity rate from 7.72 per cent a day earlier, to 4.42 per cent. No fatalities were reported. On Monday, April 18, 2022, the city recorded 501 cases, while 517 infections were logged on Sunday with a positivity rate of 4.21%.
Maharashtra and Kerala remain the other two states at peak of cases.
Why Delhi traders are opposed to masks?
Traders’ body has requested District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) not impose masks just based on positivity rates.
DDMA meets today to decide the official announcement of the Mask Mandate.
The recent rapid rise in Hong Kong, South Korea, and China just reinforced that it is not possible to escape the formidable SARS Cov-2.
The Virus will run through the population some time or other to have its toll, however, invoking immunity among survivors.
Also read: Understanding Covid-19: 4th Booster Dose – Facts and Myths
*Dr Satish K Gupta is an MD in Medicines, a Visiting Senior Consultant Physician and Internist at Max Super Speciality Hospital, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at GS Medical College, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. He is the author of Journey of COVID in India: A Doctor’s Perspective.
