[pandey.jai]

Originally Posted by sunilch

It could be OT but from my experience of so far in my life, 50% of the NRIs have this attitude. Once then land on other-shores their attitude towards Rules and Regulations changes totally.
..
2) General ignorance of violations by anyone in the society.
..

I think the saying "Monkey see, monkey do" is very apt in human life.

[CliffHanger]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Being a Doctor, I am saying, not wearing a helmet while riding is way bigger negligence and dangerous than not wearing a mask for this hyped Covid disease. Not wearing a mask can give you Covid with some fever or cough lasting two or three days. But one head injury can kill you or cripple you for life. Hope the stupid Govt. prioritises public health in the right sense.

With due respect to your contributions, I just checked with my close friend who is a practising doctor in GH, Chennai, and who topped Tamil Nadu in engineering and medical entrance exams, on covid being hyped, he just said, "people are dying badly".

[Zen2001]

Originally Posted by PearlJam

And let us not forget the extremely low numbers in states that had massive election-related gatherings in the last few months.

You have your answer right there!

Originally Posted by am1m

But at least this time around the vaccination drive is definitely picking up pace and pretty soon I think (hope) we'll see the effects with reduced serious cases at least. Fingers crossed.

I doubt it, unless the vaccine enhances common sense! The new wave is mostly ascribed to newer VOC (variants of concern) including the double mutant Indian strain - the vaccines are based on the Wuhan strain isolated last April. The only thing that still works is common sense and precautions (not to the extent of lockdown, though).

Originally Posted by pandey.jai

The numbers reported by MH don’t look good. I have to head back to Pune to vacate my house and it looks like that’s going to be a nightmare with everyone requiring Covid -ve reports. The society I live in also has a lot of cases so I don’t know if it is wise to go back there. Lease is expiring at end of month and it’s getting tough to justify rental expense when I’m not even living there.
Covid has created so many uncertainties and I don’t like them one bit (the uncertainties I mean).

It's your call. I stay in Pune with positive cases all around me - be it hospital or home - just follow simple precautions. And if you still contract it, there's not much you could have done - 99% you'll still be all right. That's a certainty, the uncertainties have been infiltrated by the government, aided by the media. You know who to believe.

Originally Posted by DriverR

I thought RT-PCR test was more reliable among the various COVID test options? The RAT is supposed to be unreliable which is why the standard process is to get an PCR test even if the RAT comes negative.

It is more reliable, but still has plenty of its own shortcomings. Take it with a large pinch of salt.

Originally Posted by PearlJam

It also means that I am probably protected for some duration in the future, and probably much better off when a new strain comes in the future. Even in the longer term, probably due to T-cells. Right?

Wrong. Nothing proven about that. We already have 3-4 new strains now infecting those who were already infected (not counting the millions of asymptomatic infections) AND those who are "completely vaccinated".

Originally Posted by vivek95

But I too have been saying this since day 1 of the pandemic last year that why should we really worry when 80+% of the individuals are asymptomatic ?? Isn't it better that a disease that has entered your body is not producing any symptoms because of immune system at work ?? Besides, it is now nearly proven that asymptomatic people carry the least or no risk of spreading the disease to others. If it were like Ebola, Zika where in the manifestations are deadly and fatality rate is high, then the fear and panic and lockdown are justified. This whole paranoid approach towards Covid again and again is just not done. Let me tell you, the recent surge in cases in Mumbai and Pune ( highest in the country ) are majorly asymptomatic or very mildly symptomatic. Had we ever isolated ourselves for 14+ days for something as minor as a runny nose,sore throat or two spikes of fever earlier ?? Can't understand why cannot we just live with Covid and get on with life. This disease is never ever gonna go. Lets admit and treat only those patients who require oxygen and the lungs are severely affected.

No need to tell you, Dr. Vivek, but in India, the doctor who reassures and doesn't order a page of fancy tests and lengthy prescriptions is labelled "useless" and even has his credentials questioned by his own patients and their relatives. You have to be "seen to be doing something" no matter how inconsequential. They would rather believe Dr. Google but want you to be the "executive". Hence so many tests, HRCTs, unproven cocktails of medicines and probably even not so efficient vaccines! But people deserve what they get and that's what is showing.

Originally Posted by PearlJam

My question is: If most of the people are asymptomatic, and asymptomatic people carry the least or no risk of spreading the disease to others - then why are the "official" numbers rising so high? It can't be just due to false positives. So many celebrities seems to be testing positive nowadays - is it because all of them are working with symptomatic people around them? If so, then it should be easy to avoid at least a majority of these symptomatic people, since we can "see" their symptoms?

Symptoms are subjective. A mild headache/body ache for a person who's accustomed to it either as a result of his lifestyle, work etc, may not consider these symptoms at all. Other than temperature (which can also be manipulated), those who want to can just deny these symptoms if asked. Also presymptomatic (incubation period) patients have already infected those around them for a week or so - it's like closing the door after the horse has bolted.

Originally Posted by GTO

Have started the standard 5 - 6 medicines.

They probably work as much as fuel additives in your car. But take care!

Originally Posted by poloman

More than one year has passed since the pandemic has hit the world. But unfortunately we are as or more clueless, we were one year before.

Suddenly it looks like everyone around you is hit by the virus. Things were looking under control just a month back. How can it spike like this just in a matter of weeks? No one has a clue. People who are taking extreme precautions are also hit. Around 7 Cr people should have been vaccinated and as per some so called serum studies up to 40% might have already got the disease. Then who are getting affected now? Why is the intensity increasing? How come only in China everything is under control?

Extremely unfortunate that medical fraternity have no clue about any of the questions general public have. They are back to old ways of advising lockdowns everywhere.

The medical fraternity is not clueless. We knew even last year that lockdowns don't work. Worldwide trials debunked the magical therapies of plasma / Remdesivir/ HCQ. But do politicians listen? Are they not shouting themselves hoarse on these same issues now? The fact that they have taken the very same useless steps like last year should answer that. Influenza WILL mutate, and you have to LIVE WITH IT. PERIOD. Vaccine or not. That's what's happening now - it's called immune escape (in immunologic terms). In nature, all creatures (including Covid19) have an equal right to fight for survival, and that's how viruses fight!

Originally Posted by Merril

The other way to look at it is the large segment of india that cannot really afford to stay at home. For them it is either go down the drain financially or take their chances with the virus. For this segment, unless we vaccinate them, lockdowns arent going to help.

But I do think saying that the medical fraternity is clueless is being a bit disingenous. Also, I would look at numbers (not just numbers related to the pandemic) coming out of China quite skeptically.

JMT.

Nobody can stay at home. Restrictions are punishing only those who can't work from home. In other countries, such laws are labelled as " crime against humanity". Doesn't our constitution confer the right to work/earn a living (lawfully) on everyone?
And what do people expect from the medical community - a magic wand? Aside from listening to their own "yes men" does our govt listen to our tolerate any contrary ideas? Isn't it funny to you how all govt appointed experts sing the same tune? No conflicts in an area primarily arising from a conflict of interests! Many reputed specialists (in public health, pulmonology, infectious diseases) have voiced their dissent against govt guidelines from time to time, (in news feeds, webminars, etc) but they have been stone walled completely.

[DriverR]

A doctor shared this interesting video on efficacy rates of vaccine and why one should not focus just on that. I found it quite interesting and worth sharing.

Bottom line: The core purpose of the vaccine is not to prevent infection but to reduce the severity of the virus if you should get infected.

Link

[FrozeninTime]

I am surprised at the lethargic attitude of government towards vaccination. Vaccine production needs to be ramped up and if need be government should mandate other pharma companies to produce covaxin and covishield in shortest time. Also going against the tide I would say lockdown is required at this stage as neither public are following Covid appropriate behaviour nor Government is willing to extend vaccination for all.

P.S: It is quite disheartening to read some comments by my learned colleagues from medical community about Covid. To them I would say one thing every life is precious and I would not hide behind a statistical data to say there is nothing alarming about Covid or current Covid situation in our country.

[INJAXN]

The lockdown circus is back in M.P.
Started with only weekend lockdown, now the authorities have decided to extend it for a week in major cities where cases are rising exponentially. There will few relaxation here and there for essentials.

Seems our government has learned nothing in past 1 year, they still think that lockdown will help overcoming the covid. In another sad news, a doctor, corona nodal officer has resigned today in the capital city Bhopal. Why?, because a local MLA and few other, abused him verbally on death of a patient. Doctor broke down in tears and later resigned. Police should put these people in Jail rather than troubling a citizen who is just going to work so he can feed his family.

[virgopal]

Originally Posted by GTO

Despite taking the utmost precautions, I caught the bloody Covid-19! Am isolated on 3rd floor house with everyone else on the 1st floor house. My result came in yesterday. Strange virus - waves of weakness & chills come and go.

02 is holding steady at the 97 - 98 level. Have started the standard 5 - 6 medicines.

I wish you a speedy recovery. You will do well being relatively young.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by CliffHanger

With due respect to your contributions, I just checked with my close friend who is a practising doctor in GH, Chennai, and who topped Tamil Nadu in engineering and medical entrance exams, on covid being hyped, he just said, "people are dying badly".

Dear @CliffHanger if you are a non-medical person I can empathize with your concern and worry. And yes people are dying of Covid19 but not much more than are dying from other respiratory infectious diseases. Allow me to elaborate not to criticize your point but to add a perspective.

Going by the statistics of WHO in 2019 approximately 220,000 Indians died of TB another airborne lung related virus spread disease. The number of Indians who have died so far of Covid19 now stands at 169,000 or so. I do not wish to decry or phooh-phooh the risk of suffering from or dying from Covid19. Being a healthcare worker I fully understand that for the near and dear ones that death is always a tragedy. But thanks to our finger wagging politicians who need to 'show' they are 'doing something' we chase lockdowns and barriers to employment and business. I have said it on both this and the other thread on Covid, a year ago, that if the media reports infections and deaths due to TB we can spook ourselves over that too. Hell, we have a new disease, it will cause trouble and grief and we absolutely should take the precautions we can and get on with life. Don't take it for granted or indulge in bravado but at the same time don't get yourself spooked.

Originally Posted by Zen2001

The medical fraternity is not clueless. We knew even last year that lockdowns don't work. Worldwide trials debunked the magical therapies of plasma / Remdesivir/ HCQ. But do politicians listen? Are they not shouting themselves hoarse on these same issues now? The fact that they have taken the very same useless steps like last year should answer that. Influenza WILL mutate, and you have to LIVE WITH IT. PERIOD. Vaccine or not. That's what's happening now - it's called immune escape (in immunologic terms). In nature, all creatures (including Covid19) have an equal right to fight for survival, and that's how viruses fight!

+1. Thank you for saying it as it is.

[kits]

@ranjitnair77 - Happy to hear that everyone is doing fine and thanks for sharing your experience.

But saying if you are relatively young, you will be fine is not accurate. Don't get me wrong, it will be in maximum number of cases but covid has also had/ can have long term impact. Studies are ongoing and there are already multiple reports highlighting the same. There are people I know who have not regained their stamina or, sense of smell/taste in 8 months.

[poloman]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Going by the statistics of WHO in 2019 approximately 220,000 Indians died of TB another airborne lung related virus spread disease. The number of Indians who have died so far of Covid19 now stands at 169,000 or so. I do not wish to decry or phooh-phooh the risk of suffering from or dying from Covid19. Being a healthcare worker I fully understand that for the near and dear ones that death is always a tragedy. .

Sir, you are doing a mistake again and again by comparing Covid with TB and other diseases. This even after a year. How many in your circle is infected with TB? How many in your circle have died of TB? It is very sad you talk like this even after claiming to be a healthcare worker.

Open any TV channels and check for yourself thousands lying on hospital beds with oxygen masks and ventilators. How many are with TB? COVID mortality may be less over all. But to some people it is extremely lethal and there is no cure unlike TB. The doctors on this forum may have an opinion, but it is totally contradictory to eminent doctors we hear on other forums like TV. So if we don't know about the complexities, the best thing we can do is stop giving advice on matters of life and death.

People should not become complacent after reading such comments trivializing the danger we are in.

[ashlil]

Originally Posted by GTO

Despite taking the utmost precautions, I caught the bloody Covid-19! Am isolated on 3rd floor house with everyone else on the 1st floor house. My result came in yesterday. Strange virus - waves of weakness & chills come and go.

02 is holding steady at the 97 - 98 level. Have started the standard 5 - 6 medicines.

Hope, you are much better now GTO. Get well soon. My best wishes are with you always.

[xway]

I see many in this thread including some medical specialists and experts suggesting otherwise and criticizing lockdowns and showing less seriousness to COVID.

To the extend some are even comparing Covid with TB and common flu and fever.

In fact if your comparisions are so lame, you may suggest how many people die by not wearing helmets or seat belts, definitely they might be less then TB, so maybe safety measures are also not required.

This is exactly why most indians are not wearing masks, crowding an not following the protocols.

Having lost (brother in law) a young and completely fit person to this deadly Covid, I disagree with many here. Also, one close family survived TB and fine now since 20 plus years after treatment, so comparing these 2 is baseless.

It IS deadly, it takes lives, and most importantly it spreads like wild fire, in cases inspite of wearing masks too.

Governments world over are not doing lockdowns over nothing.

Canada, France, UK and many other countries are in lockdown, and so may be here in India too. No matter how much debatable at least it prevents people from getting out.

So, please do not take this Corona virus lightly.

I have seen many perfectly healthy human beings losing life in a matter of hours due to Corona. No virus every has been this sticky and deadly.

So, Please mask up and stay indoors as much as you can, life can change in some moments with this virus.

[DigitalOne]

Originally Posted by poloman

Sir, you are doing a mistake again and again by comparing Covid with TB and other diseases. This even after a year. How many in your circle is infected with TB? How many in your circle have died of TB? It is very sad you talk like this even after claiming to be a healthcare worker.

Open any TV channels and check for yourself thousands lying on hospital beds with oxygen masks and ventilators. How many are with TB?

Sorry for the rant but this is just incredibly elitist. TB affects the poorer class more, and just because the affected families are not in our "circle", doesn't make it any less dangerous or tragic.

Actually, health care workers and doctors would have better perspective on TB as they may be working with TB patients or in preventing TB on the ground rather than relying on TV news and WhatsApp forwards.

The middle-class is worried more about Covid than TB because despite the best efforts of WhatsApp uncles and RWAs to keep the "unwashed" out, it has entered our gated communities and our sheltered lives.

End of rant.

[srishiva]

We are running out of ICU beds, oxygen etc with this disease. We have increased that infrastructure since last year. So it can't be normal flu. So just because majority are asymptomatic isnt helping anything.

[jayded]

Originally Posted by FrozeninTime

I am surprised at the lethargic attitude of government towards vaccination. Vaccine production needs to be ramped up and if need be government should mandate other pharma companies to produce covaxin and covishield in shortest time. Also going against the tide I would say lockdown is required at this stage as neither public are following Covid appropriate behaviour nor Government is willing to extend vaccination for all.

P.S: It is quite disheartening to read some comments by my learned colleagues from medical community about Covid. To them I would say one thing every life is precious and I would not hide behind a statistical data to say there is nothing alarming about Covid or current Covid situation in our country.

Considering the population of India, I believe we have done quite well so far in terms of speed of roll-out. Thanks to our history of battles against diseases, India as a country is not a stranger to mass vaccinations which will definitely help us. From today, jabs are being given at private workplaces as well, which is another shot in the arm in the rollout. We are currently ticking at 4million vaccinations per day. Considering the overall population of India, it's not significant, but we would surely get there soon.

In contrary, compare us with a country like Australia, who closed their borders since March 2020 and still locks down states at the drop of a hat when there are 3-4 new cases. Their vaccination strategy has fallen flat on its face due to unpreparedness and being over cautious while on paper they had one of the best plans. (Link) They and few other countries still live in a bubble isolating their country from the Virus while causing more economic damage within. Only time before everyone treats this Virus with a calculated risk.