ABSTRACT
Introduction: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has evolved into a pandemic disease. The present knowledge is mainly based on available numerator data of confirmed positive cases only. The asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic cases are not brought into picture for testing at all, which is a major contributor to the pandemicity and hence creating bias in the documentation and understanding of the disease. The magnitude of the exposure of Healthcare Workers (HCW) and their potential for asymptomatic transmission makes it critical to know the incidence of infection in the healthcare population. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) SARS-CoV-2 among the asymptomatic HCW. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted during January 2021 and February 2021 in SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SRM MCH & RC), a tertiary care hospital in Potheri, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India. The HCW were asked to complete the standardised questionnaire including the basic information, symptoms of COVID-19 illness and utility of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) based on World Health Organization (WHO) risk assessment and management of exposure of HCW in the context of COVID-19. They were divided into two groups, the staff who had direct patient exposure as group 1 with 82 participants and staff without direct patient exposure as group 2 with 46 participants. The serodetection of IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was done using the Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA). The obtained results were statistically analysed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0. A chi-square test (χ2) was performed and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 128 HCW were studied. In group 1, there were 64.1% (n=82) of HCWs and in group 2 there were 35.9% (n=46) of HCWs. There were total of 74 (57.8%) males and 54(42.2%) females. No gender-specific differences were observed. The mean age in group 1 was 28.93 years and group 2 was 32.2 years. The staffs older than 40 years were more commonly affected. Adherence to strict PPE protocol was observed in 92.6% (76/82) in group 1 and 82.6% (38/46) in group 2. The difference between the groups were statistically significant (p=0.025). In this study, though the seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection was 9.8% (n=8) in group 1 and 13% (n=6) in group 2, it was statistically not significant. Conclusion: SARS-CoV2 Serology study helps to identify the asymptomatic (unestimated) cases. The results of the seroprevalence suggest that the strict adherence to PPE protocol helps to prevent COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Out of the many pandemics and epidemics that India has gone through in the last two centuries, two pandemics have been chosen-the 1918 Influenza pandemic and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, to be compared with the current state of affairs with the Covid-19 pandemic. Critical review and analysis of pandemic preparedness and India’s response to the three pandemics was made through PubMed cited articles, exclusive reports from the Government in 1918, and authentic news coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in line of healthcare, logis-tics and communication. Increase in healthcare facilities, laboratory services and research capacities noted through the three pandemics. Better surveil-lance methods and improved awareness of the public observed over the years. The readiness of the country for emergency measures with some inequalities discussed. Three different pandemics have been compared with an adequate interval between them barring the factor of healthcare inequity and virulence of the respective organism. It should be noted that there is no single solution for combating pandemics. Combined measures put together can help towards facing them with ease the next time around.
ABSTRACT
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11. Models can be established for this process to analyze and study the transmission process of infectious diseases theoretically. This paper presents the prediction of the number of positive COVID-19 cases for different lockdown scenario being implemented in some of the major cities in India. The predictions and assessments were based on a newly developed mathematical model that divides the population into four classes, i.e., susceptible, exposed, infected, and removed. According to the model, total lockdown can produce an effect in the reduction of number of corona cases in the major cities. However, similar difference may not be noted for the entire country as per the prediction.
ABSTRACT
Risk communication is one of the eight core principles of pandemic preparedness by International health regulations, which is essential to prepare for, respond to and recover from serious public health hazards like emerging infectious diseases. Covid-19 being a novel disease, generates intense fear, misinformation, and rumors confusing both authorities and the population, thereby creating the necessity for prompt information. The communicator, when imparting or exchanging information, should be clear about the message, target audience, conveying medium, and the effect it will produce. Effective communication can minimize the spread of disease, limit the impact, and ultimately save lives. Risk communication is not a last-minute additive to publicize decisions. It should be an integral part of preparedness planning for effective risk management and has to be translated into action. The risk communication strategies should be analyzed as the situation evolves, reviewed and changed if needed, as different populations and affected groups may require different strategies.
ABSTRACT
India implemented nationwide lockdown to control COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. Despite lockdown for 100 days, the incidence of covid-19 does not seem to abate. Lockdown induced productivity loss caused severe economic stress. In any pandemic, initial lockdown is necessary for every country to ensure preparedness and public awareness. India erred in prolonging the initial spell of lockdown. During lockdown infected person will spend more time with family members and neighbours thereby infecting all with increase in k-value. In the absence of lockdown they may not find so much spare time to spend with his/her family or to visit neighbours with decrease in k-value. Although lockdown in India has reduced the rapidity of spread by bringing down R0to 1.27, it was achieved at the cost of prolonging the duration of the epidemic. In the absence of adequate herd immunity, lockdown may flatten the curve but area under the curve (AUC) will remain unaltered. The idea of lifting the lockdown with an aim of developing herd immunity in 60% of the younger population appears to be promising. Reverse quarantine of high-risk population appears to be a cost-effective method of containing the COVID pandemic in resource restricted countries like India.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a humanitarian emergency. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Governments are making their best efforts to prevent the spread of disease. But a global epidemic of misinformation which is rapidly spreading through social media platforms and other outlets is posing serious problem to the public health interventions. This rapid spread of all sorts of information pertaining to the epidemic which makes its solution difficult is termed as infodemic. Infodemic creates fear, confusion and stigmatization among people and makes them more vulnerable to practice the measures which are not evidence based and scientifically sound. Hence there is an urgent need to identify the source of misinformation and prevent them from further spreading. WHO and the government of India have taken several steps in controlling this problem but there is a need for active involvement of social media companies, professional bodies, health care providers and general public in identification of misinformation and combating its spread. © 2020, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. All rights reserved.