Preventing another Surge of Covid-19

The last one and half year of Covid flares followed by troughs and repeated flares has given us a lot of knowledge and experience if we wish to learn from. Every lockdown which has actually imposed social distancing could break the chain of communication by putting a curb on spread of the virus. This is as such scientifically proven and we have to practice social distancing meticulously.

Covid virus spreads from one person to another by droplet infection and this tends to remain airborne for a while and contaminates exposed surfaces as well. Any person breathing this infected air will take the virus in through the nose. Also on touching exposed contaminated surfaces people can contact the virus. Hence is the importance of hand hygiene.

So we have to be convinced that by wearing the mask we prevent inhalation of the virus. With social distancing we can break the transmission chain and by repeatedly washing hands we remove viruses we touch unknowingly from infected surfaces.

The point to note is, this disease is just another flu but it can be life threatening at times. This second wave has taught us that it can be a reason for long term disability and deteriorating quality of life for many survivors.

Ludicrous are the people who till date refuse to admit that Covid-19 is easily transmissible and that it can change a family's fortune forever.

With slightest relaxation of administrative vigil a section of people simply lower their guards. Subsequently the trough that predates these relaxation start rising and norms have to be immediately made stricter. People then start lamenting over financial losses and psychological breakdowns. But the fact remains that if we do not strictly abide by Covid protocol and encourage vaccination, this whirlpool of rise and fall with mutations of the virus will continue forever.

It's now the primary duty of each one of us to also help overcome vaccination hesitancy. The elite and educated should stop googling unnecessarily. For google doctors often percolate half backed information and ignite fear.

At the other end of the social spectrum are the uneducated rustic villagers who are largely influenced by the village headman and religious preachers and these days social media as well. So these are the important circuits we need to repair and reach out with the right information.

Next, authorities may consider incentives for people who managed to stay safe in this pandemic by abiding protocol. Again people who are vaccinated should be allowed hassle free travel, visit to theatres, shopping malls, parks, museums, restaurants etc. Finally those who resist vaccination will be left with no option but to take the jab.

Once 90 per cent of people are vaccinated and they value Covid prevention protocol, we will learn to live with Covid like we are doing with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

It would also be prudent to know that every doctor and paramedical staff are doing their best irrespective of any laurels being showered on them or not. There is a huge group of such people who are working relentlessly with no quarantine breaks since last year. Many of them have neither been recognized nor have they sought for any limelight.

So we have to be convinced that by wearing the mask we prevent inhalation of the virus. With social distancing we can break the transmission chain and by repeatedly washing hands we remove viruses we touch unknowingly from infected surfaces.

For every healthcare worker who receives appreciation remember there are a dozen others who's sacrifices are never rewarded.

As such it will be an incentive to work better if the society nurtures a healthy doctor patient relationship. Confidence from both sides will help in creating a platform of mutual trust. This in turn will pave better results of pain and strain taken by both the healer and the sufferer.

If doctors are not ignominiously handled in public for issues like hospital maintenance or abiding by world wide norms of duty schedules, their self-respect can be better preserved. This in turn will definitely help in carrying a nice message to the society that doctors in general are trying their best.

If the sense of security of doctors in their work place is not endangered by imbecile furious mob than only can a doctor take a foot forward in a critical situation.

At the other end of the spectrum is the precarious balance of legal hassles created by faultfinding attendants. In the present situation the doctor is a service provider and patient is a consumer. If this is the perception of a doctor while interacting with the patient, I must confess that no doctor can take any decision comfortably in any situation.

So the bottom line to all this is:

1) Covid is here to stay like many other infective diseases.

2) Abiding by proper Covid protocol is mandatory.

3) Universal vaccination is the key tool.

4) Early medical consultation can prevent fatality and morbidity.

5) Mutual trust between doctor and patient goes a long way in quality health care in all medical situations.