As IMA cites three reasons behind recent Covid-19 surge in India, experts share insights

In a statement, it mentioned that the vaccination drive has developed a false sense of security, and so we lowered the guard against the infection. “People with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body ache, loss of smell or taste, breathlessness should get tested for corona,” IMA added further, advising people to wash hands frequently, wear masks, avoid crowded places and poorly ventilated settings, and getting yourself vaccinated.

Talking about the same, Dr Aditya S Chowti, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bangalore said, “There are multiple factors behind the surge in Covid-19 cases in India. It is primarily because of the mutation of the virus that takes place, hence, people are susceptible to these kinds of new variants. A relaxation of certain Covid-19 norms and secondary infections in the air are also the possible causes.”

Prevention is the order of the day (Source: Freepik)

Agreeing, Dr Monalisa Sahu, Consultant Infectious Diseases, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, said that the surge is due to the laxity in the Covid appropriate behaviour which includes no usage of face masks, lack of hand washing, and not observing appropriate precautions when sick with respiratory symptoms. “Increased and unrestricted travel, aggregation of a large number of people in closed spaces and large rallies and public meetings without appropriate preventive measures is also contributing to the surge,” she said.

The expert added that people with respiratory symptoms approaching healthcare facilities are sometimes not getting themselves tested for Covid-19 even when asked for, although the government and private labs are well-equipped to do so. “COVID-19 being an RNA virus is very prone to mutations and newer strains will keep coming up, with some strains being more virulent than the others, which can also contribute to the surge in cases,” Dr Sahu said.

Dr Harish Chafle, Consultant Intensivist and Chest Physician, Global Hospitals, Parel Mumbai said, “The Covid curve refuses to flatten in the country. The reasons behind the surge in Covid cases can be due to easing lockdown restrictions as people have again started going to offices, theatres, and malls, people are not wearing masks and fail to follow social distancing, and even the testing rate has dramatically gone down, and even the new variant of coronavirus infection. A new variant of coronavirus infection may be driving the surge.”

Dr Chowti said that prevention is the order of the day. “Good hygiene, personal hygiene such as washing your hands regularly, avoiding unnecessary touching surfaces, and old Covid-19 norms should be followed. People should be encouraged to wear masks, especially when travelling in public or crowded places. These simple steps will help prevent the spread of infection to a large extent,” he said.

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