Virulent strains could be behind surge in infections: AIIMS chief
People not adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behavior and the circulation of highly infectious strains of SARS-COV-2 could be the primary reasons behind the surge in coronavirus infections in India, AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria said on Monday. He also warned that if the situation is not reversed, then the galloping infection rate will eventually cause a huge strain on the country's healthcare system.
People became lax toward COVID-19 norms: Dr. Guleria
Dr. Guleria sought stricter enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behavior on the ground level by the administration and authorities. "Around February, when cases started to decrease, people became lax toward following COVID-19 appropriate behavior as they thought the virus had become ineffective," he said.
People are taking the disease lightly now: Dr. Guleria
"People are taking the disease lightly now. If you go out, you see that marketplaces, restaurants, and shopping malls are crowded and full of people and these all are super-spreader events," Dr. Guleria said. "Earlier, if one sick person was able to infect around 30 percent of their contacts, this time those getting the disease are infecting a larger number of people," he said.
Highly infectious and transmissible strains circulating in country
"The rate of spread of the infection is fast possibly due to highly infectious and transmissible strains circulating," he added. Various strains of SARS-CoV-2, including the UK, South Africa, and Brazil variants, are circulating in India and have been termed as highly transmissible by experts. Dr. Guleria said, "Entire humanity is going through difficult times and unless it is important, people shouldn't venture out."
'Act now or situation may get completely out of control'
"Also, it has to be ensured that there is no gathering and stricter enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behavior has to be ensured," the AIIMS chief said. "We may lose the gains we have made so far if we do not pay heed now and the situation may completely get out of control," he further said.
Dr. Guleria also urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19
"If the situation is not reversed, then the galloping infection rate will eventually cause a huge strain on the healthcare system also," Dr. Guleria stressed. The AIIMS chief also urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
'Vaccine will prevent progression of COVID-19 to a severe form'
"Though the vaccine will not protect a person from contracting COVID-19, it will prevent its progression to a severe form and thereby reduce mortality," Dr. Guleria said. "But wearing masks and following other protocols is equally important," he added. India on Monday recorded the biggest single-day jump of 1,68,912 fresh COVID-19 cases that took the infection tally to 1,35,27,717, according to Health Ministry data.
Ten states have shown a steep rise in daily cases
Ten states - Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan - have shown a steep rise in daily cases, accounting for 83.02 percent of the infections reported in a day.
