The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has advised people to follow Covid appropriate behaviour with immediate effect amid a huge surge in cases in China.
Don’t get complacent
People have been advised to avoid international travel and wear masks in all public places.
The IMA said the situation in India was not alarming and there was no need to panic.
“Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, all are advised to take following necessary steps to overcome the impending Covid outbreak,” the IMA said.
Advisory Issued By IMA
- Face masks are to be used in all public places.
- Social distancing is to be maintained.
- Regular hand washing with soap and water or sanitizers.
- Public gatherings like marriages, political or social meetings etc. to be avoided.
- Avoid international travel.
- Consult the doctor in case of any symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, loose motions etc.
- Get your Covid vaccination, including precautionary dose at the earliest.
- Follow the government advisory issued from time to time.
Advisory to the government
The Association also asked the government to ramp up preparedness for any such situation as seen during last year’s deadly second wave.
The government should do so by issuing necessary instructions to the concerned Ministries and Departments to make available “emergency medicines, oxygen supply and ambulance services”.
Can India handle it?
The medical body, however, assured that India was equipped to handle any eventualities thanks to its robust infrastructure in public as well as in the private sector, dedicated medical manpower and availability of sufficient medicines and vaccines.
How did we get here?
The virus is once again at the forefront thanks to China abruptly easing its strict lockdown measures, abandoning its draconian zero-Covid approach.
As a result, hospitals and medical facilities in the country have been overwhelmed with patients.
The IMA said nearly 5.37 lakh new Covid cases were reported in the last 24 hours from major countries like China, USA, Japan, South Korea, France and Brazil.
Current situation in India
On Thursday, India recorded 185 fresh Covid cases and one death.
Four cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7, the strain behind China’s current situation, have been detected in India — two in Gujarat and two in Odisha.
In Gujarat, both the patients, who had foreign travel history, have recovered.
BF.7 is known to spread very fast and has a shorter incubation period.
