Docs question preparedness for next wave, seek increase in testing facilities
Two new variants, BF.7 and BA5.1.7, are highly infectious. File pic
Are we prepared to handle any future surge in COVID numbers or any new pandemic, ask health experts, who have expressed concern about the dismantling of jumbo COVID centres across the city and its outskirts at a time when the numbers are rising globally and sub-variants of Omicron are being reported.
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mid-day in its article ‘Experts fear complicated COVID cases in winter’, dated October 8, highlighted the emergence of new Omicron sub-variants that are causing hospitalisations in European nations and the US, and India could see a similar situation once colder weather sets in.
Dr Subhash Hira; Dr Wiqar Shaikh and Dr Santosh Bansode
Experts also fear that, unlike other countries, India is not preparing itself for new pandemics. Strategic documents are being prepared by infectious and communicable disease experts in Latin America and Africa, which have started work on sustainable preparedness to face future pandemics. Moreover, most countries have not dismantled pandemic centres, unlike Mumbai, because it is more cost-efficient to scale down and sustain the facilities, workforce and infrastructure, rather than dismantle and reassemble the same in a crisis situation, which might be disastrous, pointed out Dr Subhash Hira, professor of global health at University of Washington, Seattle, and advisor of WHO-TDR-Geneva.
Also Read: Mumbai: BMC issues advisory for festive season for prevention of Covid-19
Dismantling of jumbo COVID centres premature
“Just two days ago, Singapore’s minister of health announced the doubling of new COVID-19 cases to 11,580 due to a new sub-variant, XBB. It is a mutant of Omicron and is considered to be a low disease-causing virus. Singapore expects that a ‘sharp-and-short’ wave caused by XBB will emerge in November and it has made the appropriate preparations. Delivery of new bivalent vaccines has started in Singapore and adults above 50 years are eligible for the vaccine at their COVID centres,” said Dr Hira.
According to the doctor, dismantling functional jumbo centres in Mumbai doesn’t make sense because the infrastructure is onerous to re-establish. “COVID and its waves ruthlessly showed that the global health crises threatened to overwhelm already overstretched health systems,” he said.
New variants infectious
Dr Wiqar Shaikh, professor of medicine, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, has once again expressed concern regarding the expected surge of COVID-19 cases during winter. He said that new variants have emerged, particularly in China, and have spread to other countries. He added that the two new variants, BF.7 and BA5.1.7, are highly infectious and have a high transmission rate and that BF.7 has spread rapidly in the USA, Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark and the UK.
Where will citizens go?
Dr Shaikh said that he is alarmed at the closure of jumbo COVID centres. He asked where citizens would go for medical help and hospitalisation if there is a surge in COVID-19 cases in the city in winter. The doctor said that given the medical infrastructure in Mumbai, particularly for the poorer population, the lack of jumbo centres could spell disaster during the expected winter wave. He urged the municipal corporation to increase COVID-19 testing facilities and also to conduct door-to-door surveys to detect cases of fever, cold and cough. The professor of medicine suggested that the municipal corporation keep at least one jumbo centre operational and bring back more whenever needed.
Mumbai is ‘carefree’
Dr Shaikh expressed concern at the huge drop in testing rates for COVID-19 in Mumbai. He said that in several laboratories, RT-PCR kits are just not available. He added that people in Mumbai have become carefree and lackadaisical. “Despite the widespread occurrence of fever cases with cough and cold in Mumbai, citizens are simply disinclined to get a COVID-19 test done, as they think the virus is gone and the pandemic is over,” he said, urging people to adhere to appropriate behaviour.
Back-up plans a must
Dr Santosh Bansode, head of department, emergency medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals, said, “Now, there are fewer COVID cases. People who are getting infected have mild symptoms and they are recovering fast on their own. So many of them are not getting tested. Because of this, the overall numbers are low. It is a fact that there is a sudden surge in COVID cases in a few countries outside India, viz the USA, Europe and Singapore. If a similar scenario happens here, we need to evaluate, and think for ourselves, if we are ready to handle such situations. Currently, all of us are relaxed as far as COVID is concerned and this attitude of ours may cause problems if the numbers start increasing. We must observe the rest of the world and be prepared always. We must have backup plans. We must take all precautions to avoid an increase in numbers.”
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