Negotiating a blind turn - Modi steering safely

Narendra Modi – leading from the front : 

India, as at present, is seriously engaged in fighting an invisible adversary whose origin and its lethal might is not yet fully known.  It is important to take note that, for the first time, in the last several centuries in history such an unimaginable catastrophe has struck India. It has thrown the national development agenda to winds and the individual’s agenda too has been forced to wind up for no fault of his own. The whole world seems to have been united whole-heartedly for a common cause—save the existence of the human race.

 

What is Coronavirus ( Covid-19 ) ?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.  In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.

 

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.  

Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.

The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.  WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.    

The risk of catching COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person appears to be low. While initial investigations suggest the virus may be present in feces in some cases, spread through this route is not a main feature of the outbreak. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share new findings. Because this is a risk, however, it is another reason to clean hands regularly, after using the bathroom and before eating. 

How do you protect yourself ?

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks. Authorities in China and some other countries have succeeded in slowing or stopping their outbreaks. However, the situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.

You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:

• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
  Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
• Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
  Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
  Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
• Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
  Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
• Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
  Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
• Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid travelling to places  – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
  Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.

        Protection measures :

Follow the guidance outlined above (Protection measures for everyone)

• Self-isolate by staying at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache, low-grade fever (37.3 C or above) and slight runny nose, until you recover. If it is essential for you to have someone bring you supplies or to go out, e.g. to buy food, then wear a mask to avoid infecting other people.
  Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
• If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travellers.
  Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

( Source: Wikipedia )

 The table indicating the world status report of the casualty is as follows: Suspects/reported—353327, death toll—15408, recovered –100605. In terms of percentages, —95% in mild condition and 87% discharged.

An authentic international journal in this field has reported as following.

 ‘Coronavirus was spreading human to human to transmission by close contact via airborne droplets generating by coughing, sneezing, kissing and smooching. So avoid these activities with infected partners and family members. Coronavirus may transmit through pet animals such as dog, cat, pig, cow, turkeys. So avoid contact and separate them if observed any infection activities like diarrhea, cold, fever. As per WHO and ECDC guideline avoid contact with the sick person and also avoid the market or public place as per possible. There are no anti coronavirus vaccine to prevent or treatment but some supporting therapy work. Future research needed to fight with coronavirus. Till only ‘Distance is rescue’.

( Source : DOI: 10.14744/ejmo.2020.51418 EJMO 2020;4(1):8–25 Review Cite This Article: Kumar D, Malviya R, Kumar Sharma P. Corona Virus: A Review of COVID-19. EJMO2020;4(1):8–25.).

 

International status report :

The 25 countries which have been affected most is as follows.

Sr No	Country/Other	Total cases	New cases	Total deaths	Total recovered
1	China	81,008	41	3,255	71,740
2	Italy	47,021		4,032	5,129
3	Spain	21,571		1,093	1,588
4	Germany	19,848		68	180
5	USA	19,650	267	264	147
6	Iran	19,644		1,433	6,745
7	France	12,612		450	1,587
8	South Korea	8,799	147	102	2,612
9	Switzerland	5,615		56	15
10	UK	3,983		177	65
11	Netherlands	2,994		106	2
12	Austria	2,649		6	9
13	Belgium	2,257		37	204
14	Norway	1,959		7	1
15	Sweden	1,639		16	16
16	Denmark	1,255		9	1
17	Canada	1,087		12	14
18	Malaysia	1,030		3	87
19	Australia	1,023	95	7	46
20	Portugal	1,020		6	5
21	Japan	1,007		35	215
22	Brazil	970		11	2
23	Czechia	833			4
24	Diamond Princess	712		8	567
25	Israel	705		1	15

 

With inputs from agencies. Updated Date: Mar 21, 2020.

 

In India, the following table indicates the National Status Report.

COVID-19 cases in India: The numbers are from data published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on their website.

2020 coronavirus pandemic in India by state and union territory
SN	State or Union territory	Active cases	Deaths	Recoveries	Total cases
1	Andhra Pradesh	7	0	0	7
2	Bihar	1	1	0	2
3	Chandigarh	6	0	0	6
4	Chhattisgarh	1	0	0	1
5	Delhi †	23	1	5	29
6	Gujarat	28	1	0	29
7	Haryana †	26	0	0	26
8	Himachal Pradesh	2	1	0	3
9	Jammu and Kashmir	4	0	0	4
10	Karnataka	30	1	2	33
11	Kerala †	91	0	4	95
12	Ladakh	13	0	0	13
13	Madhya Pradesh	6	0	0	6
14	Maharashtra †	72	2	0	74
15	Odisha	2	0	0	2
16	Puducherry	1	0	0	1
17	Punjab	20	1	0	21
18	Rajasthan †	25	0	3	28
19	Tamil Nadu †	8	0	1	9
20	Telangana †	31	0	1	32
21	Uttarakhand	3	0	0	3
22	Uttar Pradesh †	22	0	9	31
23	West Bengal	6	1	0	7
Total		401	9	24	434
*† Inclusive of 41 foreign nationals (1 in Delhi, 14 in Haryana, 7 in Kerala, 3 in Maharashtra, 2 in Rajasthan, 2 in Tamil Nadu, 11 in Telangana, 1 in Uttar Pradesh)
As of 24 March 2020

 

The statistical status report both – international and domestic, indicates relatively a   small number which apparently may appear harmless, which is not so.

It appears that the restrictions on the movement has come to stay for quite some time. All these measures are aimed at eliminating the possibilities of spreading the virus through the human transmission. At the moment it is on an individual basis, if the situation goes beyond control, it may encompass community to community basis, which is a grave threat to the human race itself.

Essential Services :

Modi Government has taken abundant care not to disturb the day-to-day life of the citizens. It has declared the following services as “Essential Services”:   Supply of groceries, beverages, fruits, vegetables, drinking water, fodder, processing units which process processed food items, dispensing of petrol, diesel, CNG at designated points, rice shellers milling paddy, milk plants, dairy units, fodder making units, cattle fields, LPG gas, medical stores, health services, manufacturing of medical health equipment, communication services, insurance companies, banks and ATMs, Post Offices, loading and unloading of wheat and rice in godowns, transportation of essential commodities/essential services, and stock articles required for procurement and storage of food.

Modi –the fearless versatile :

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing the minds of the people, preparing the people for an unprecedented prolonged war against the very human civilization. He is not disturbed. He is a “pracharak”, planning his road map towards total safety, very carefully. He is not only leading the nation, but he is also leading the region as well-the SAARC countries, even the developed nations-i.e. the G-20 countries. This is an occasion for him to prove his might and the metal. The people of India have found a leader in whose hands, the nation is quite safe. Of course for him India is the world leader in times of catastrophe –to save the world, to save the human race. Yet, for him, it is the Nation first.