Covid-19 live and kicking, don't shun mask, booster: Experts

Don't take COVID lightly. This is the message experts have sought to give as cases start shooting up. As per government data on Friday, 24 people died of the disease in as many hours in India. Mumbai has also been reporting over 1,000 cases a day for the past three days. While only 64 patients were hospitalised on May 26, the number has now leapt to 323, with 78 of them on oxygen support.

Dr HARSHAD Limaye, senior consultant, internal medicine and infectious diseases, Nanavati Hospital, said, "In the past two weeks, the number of COVID infections has risen by a whopping 380 per cent, from 350 on May 26 to over 1,700 on June 9. The exponential rise in cases mirrors the lackadaisical precautionary approach of our society. Though COVID infections are not causing hospitalisations, individuals with comorbidities are worsening rapidly after being infected. If the majority continues to avoid mask usage, social distancing, and hand sanitisation, we will have to suffer the repercussions of the fourth wave."

A sample being collected, at Nair hospital on Tuesday

The expert added, "Most importantly, everyone should've taken the booster dose by now to strengthen their immunity and reduce the severity of the infection but only a handful of individuals have taken the precautionary dose."

In the last 9 days, Coronavirus has claimed four lives. While 5 patients are on ventilator support, 66 are in ICU.

A sample being collected from a citizen at Wadia Hospital, Thane West on Friday. Pic/Sameer Markande

Dr Rahul Pandit, director of critical care at Fortis Hospitals and also a member of the state Covid Task Force, said, "The high-risk population like senior citizens suffering from comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, kidney dialysis patients and patients suffering from respiratory diseases are vulnerable. The immunity of these people is compromised, so the chance is that they might contract the infection and it can prove fatal for some patients."

Pandit said it is the onus of family members to protect the elderly and comorbid. "That means every member of the family needs to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. Though senior citizens are not going out, those who are going out can be the source of transmission. So wearing a mask, sanitising hands, and avoiding the crowd is a must."

Doctors have also stressed the need for testing as monsoon will begin in a few days and most of the symptoms of seasonal flu and COVID-19 are the same.

Dr Smita Chavan, deputy dean of SevenHills Hospital, said, "With the onset of monsoon, there will be a spike in cases of seasonal flu along with COVID. Fever, vomiting, body ache, and diarrhoea are the common symptoms so it will be difficult for people to identify so it will be better to go for COVID testing along with dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Most of the patients admitted to SevenHills Hospital have taken both doses of vaccine. They still contracted the disease and need hospitalisation, which means one should take booster dose to avoid severity."

Also Read: Covid-19: At 1,956, Mumbai reports over 1,000 cases fourth day in a row

She added, "At present in SevenHills, 19 people are in ICU and 9 are on oxygen support. If there is a further rise in the cases then definitely the demand for oxygen and ICU beds will increase proportionally. So we need to be careful before the surge converts into a wave."

Dr Mangala Gomare, BMC's executive health officer, said, "Though the number of admissions is less if cases go up then there will be a rise in admissions too. COVID has not gone, people should behave responsibly and wear a mask and sanitation must be a priority. BMC-run hospitals, maternity homes, and dispensaries have COVID testing facilities. If anyone has symptoms they can approach these centres and get themselves tested."

78
No. of patients now on oxygen support

1,956
No. of new cases in Mumbai on Friday