NEW DELHI: Dr. Manish Kumar, a distinguished neurosurgeon of the country has spoken to us on the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and its remedy and long-term effects. While, having a long conservation with, he is of the view that “people are getting vaccinated across the country – be it Covishield, Covaxin or Sputnik or any other brands of vaccine may come to India. However, it does not mean people can return to their pre-pandemic lifestyles just yet”.
The COVID-19 vaccines are effective for those who get one, but they will be most effective once enough of the population has been vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Until then, it remains imperative that everyone continue to follow preventive measures to minimize their risk and limit exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.
Even though our home grown COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 infections, severe disease and death, the risks in fully vaccinated people cannot be eliminated. Vaccinated people could potentially be well, however, there are still chances of infections and it’s spread to others. That is why it is important to continue to follow proper precautions, such as these eight key tips outlined below.
Dr. Manish advises people to still follow the certain precautions to stop infections for a larger population. India, with more than 1.25 billion people cannot be vaccinated immediately. However, the government has been honestly trying to make it possible to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections.
Masking ourselves, is one of the finest solutions can be observed as of now. People must use double mask to protect themselves. The recent contagious SARS-CoV-2 variants spreading across the country., further guidance has been released about mask wearing. Maximizing the fit of cloth and medical masks is key to improving performance as well as reducing transmission and exposure of SARS-CoV-2.
We will also have to maintain physical/social distancing, as this still remains vital for limiting the spread of COVID-19. While physical distancing of at least six feet paired with wearing face masks and handwashing are everyday preventive actions that should be followed during the pandemic, patients are still uncertain about when these measures apply. Physicians want to help patients better understand when to practice physical distancing and how, ‘Dr. Manish emphasises’
Regular washing of hands is essential because of how often people touch their faces or rub their eyes, giving virus particles their pathway into the body. “It’s in our hands. … You have the dynamics of the virus which, if left to its own devices, will keep resurging. The only way to stop it is what we do as a countermeasure. It can be done.” He added further.
Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 are often asymptomatic, said Dr. Manish Kumar. That is why it’s especially critical that children over 2 years of age wear masks to prevent spread of the virus to others. The children also are likelier to be together in small, enclosed spaces all at once.
New variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are circulating in the U.S. first and further it has raised international alarms as they continue to spread in other countries, including India around the world. The emergence and rapid spread of at least three coronavirus variants has intensified the push to better understand how the novel coronavirus mutates and what this means for vaccine efficacy.