Covid may be moving towards the endemic stage in India; here’s what it means

Dr Vijay Kumar Gurjar, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi said that when Healthy Ministry sources refer to Covid-19 being in the endemic stage, it means that the virus has become a part of the population’s regular disease cycle, much like the flu. “It is no longer considered a pandemic but rather a common occurrence that people will encounter from time to time. This also suggests that people may have to learn to live with the virus in the long term, and measures will have to be put in place to keep the virus under control while allowing daily life to continue,” he added.

Agreeing, Dr Sandeep Bhatnagar, Director, Internal Medicine, Paras Hospital, Udaipur said that this also means that the virus is present at a relatively stable level within a specific geographic area or population. “In other words, the virus is no longer spreading rapidly and uncontrollably, and people have developed some level of immunity to the virus through vaccination or prior exposure. This does not mean that the virus is no longer a threat, but rather that it has become a more manageable public health issue,” he explained.

While Health Ministry is expecting the cases to subside after the next 10-12 days, experts urge precaution (Source: Freepik)

Government sources also highlighted that even though Covid-19 cases are increasing, hospitalisation is low and it is expected to remain low. “The number of hospitalisations though is minimal and is anticipated to stay low, despite the fact that Covid-19 cases are everyday rising,” Dr Piyush Mishra, District Immunisation Officer, North East Delhi said. The expert added that the XBB.1.16 subvariant of Omicron, which is driving the latest surge, is so far the most contagious strain of the virus. It can infect both fully vaccinated and those who have recovered from Covid recently.

As such, “A high temperature, headache, sore throat, persistent coughing, a sense of exhaustion, and body pains are a few of the symptoms that people should watch out for and recognise at an early stage. People with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, asthma, and other illnesses need to take extra care of themselves, along with children, pregnant women and the elderly who also need to be given special attention. Wear a mask, stay away from crowds, and frequently wash your face,” Dr Mishra said.

Speculating about the ongoing surge in cases, Dr Monalisa Sahu, Consultant Infectious Diseases, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad said that it is unlikely that the cases would reach a level of the fourth wave. “Covid-19, being an RNA virus, is more prone to mutations, and evolving of newer strains. All the mutant strains would not be of a higher virulence and pathogenicity, and would not always be responsible for a more severe disease. Thus, a severe form of the disease should not be expected with every new strain coming up,” she said.

While Health Ministry is expecting the cases to subside after the next 10-12 days, experts urge precaution. “It is important to note that predictions like this are subject to change and may vary depending on factors such as vaccination rates, public health measures, and the emergence of new variants. It is also important to continue following public health guidelines such as wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccinated to help reduce the spread of the virus and prevent future surges,” Dr Bhatnagar said.

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