Covid Surge: Do not allow situation go out of control, say Experts
‘Follow all SOP’s strictly to curb the spread’
Srinagar: Kashmir’s top medico and the frontline Covid warrior Dr Naveed Nazir Monday said that it’s high time for the people to take all precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 pandemic and that the situation shouldn’t be allowed to go out of control.
Head of Department at Chest Diseases Hospital Dalgate, Srinagar, Dr Naveed said that the situation shouldn’t be allowed to go out of control and people should take all precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We had been stating that Covid is here and it has not gone away. One thing that needs to be hailed is that people have started following SoPs. There is hardly anyone who doesn’t wear a mask. This is a good sign,” he said, adding that “we must strictly follow SoPs and contain the situation.”
About the present position at CD hospital, one of the premier hospitals dealing with the Covid positive patients, Dr Naveed said that there are over 100 beds available for the virus affected patients and almost there is 90 per cent occupancy.
“We are not admitting patients with mild symptoms and they are asked to go for home isolation. At present all our beds are almost full. We have oxygen facility at all the beds and have ventilators as a backup as well. We also have 50 more beds available as a backup at a nursing home,” the leading medico said. He said that all the cases admitted at CD hospital are severe cases who need oxygen and injections.
Over 1500 positive cases were reported in J&K UT on Monday, highest in the past six months.
Dr Naveed said that there is no shortage of oxygen in Srinagar and one more oxygen plant is coming up in the city this month.
Dr Naveed, who is a frontline Covid warrior, said that SMHS and other hospitals have also been designated as Covid hospitals “but people shouldn’t allow the situation to go out of control and stick to Covid protocols strictly.”
About the Covid vaccine, he said that there are some cases who have tested positive even after taking the Covid vaccine, but that is obvious as the vaccine takes at least three weeks to adjust in the body.
“Its efficacy too isn’t 100 percent but it has surely helped to prevent the severity in the patients who test positive, which is significant. People must take Covid vaccines as it helps to prevent mortality,” he added.
Senior medico, Dr Mohammad Sultan Khuroo said that in the second-wave there are several things that have taken us by great surprise.
“The wave is extraordinary steep and it shows something has happened,” Khuroo said.
Khuroo said that the very callous attitude of people towards the pandemic, political and religious activities and the presence of mutant variants are the possible reasons behind the resurgence.
“A mutation can occur when the virus can die. When it can be weak than the mutant variant when it becomes as strong as the parent virus. Besides, the mutant variant spreads faster and can kill more people,” he said.
“Earlier we used to say that protect elderly people having comorbidities but it is severe now and is involving younger people. Earlier it was behaving mildly but now infection is severe among young people too, so there is a need to protect every person,” he said. “Although in very few but severe Covid-19 infection can affect lungs of younger people and in few cases, there can be inflammatory syndrome.”
Khuroo said that young people have to remain more vigilant as the vaccination process hasn’t been started for them.
“As of now and everyone must follow covid appreciate behaviour so as to beat the Covid-19.”
He said that even if people today start following Covid appropriate behaviour in letter and spirit there is no need of lockdown, “but if the callous approach of people and steep surge continues then lockdown is the last option to beat this pandemic.”
Dr Khursheed Ahmad, a pulmonologist at CD hospital said that severity is more now in younger people too.
“Authorities are here selective, schools have been closed but music concerts and other things are going on,” he said, adding that there is a need for a pragmatic approach and need to keep a vigil on national highway and airport.
“Lockdown is not a solution but there is a need to install proper checking points so that we can beat the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Saleem Khan, Nodal Officer for COVID-19 and HoD Social and Preventive Medicine, GMC Srinagar, said the situation has turned alarming as the younger generation has been badly affected by COVID-19 in Kashmir.
He said Jammu and Kashmir would become Delhi in case people do not follow SOPs like wearing face masks, avoid social gatherings and maintain distance in letter and spirit.
He said viruses can never be stable as they keep on changing and might turn aggressive sometimes and sometimes become less effective.
DR Saleem said new strains of COVID-19 circulating in India are aggressive and virulent and increase its transmission manifold. He also claimed that the situation has turned alarming to the extent; COVID-19 has affected the young generation badly. (KNO)
KV News
