By Samyukta Narayanan
Image courtesy: Press Trust of India
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for this virus. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available.
‘Everyone wants this to get over soon but still, they are coming out there homes’
Cases of coronavirus are rising day by day and still are not taking the lockdown seriously. 2,069 cases on Thursday, according to Union Health Ministry data. Out of these, 1,860 are active cases, while 155 people have recovered or discharged from the hospital, while 53 people lost their lives to the highly contagious COVID-19 disease. The recent jump in the number of patients is done by the recent events held in New Delhi (Nizamuddin) and the sudden increase in the cases in Andhra Pradesh shows that people are neglecting the decisions taken by the government.
Globally, the total number of coronavirus cases has crossed 12 lakh. Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu are among the worst affected states. Till today the cases rose to 3,374 in India, 77 deaths.
With 472 fresh cases reported in 24 hours, the total number of coronavirus positive cases in India jumped to 3,374 today, according to the latest figures released by the Health Ministry. The death toll has gone up to 77 while 266 have recovered. Maharashtra (490), Tamil Nadu (485) and Delhi (445) are among the worst affected states.
“India stands at an important turning point in its fight against COVID-19. Extraordinary situations demand extraordinary measures. The Prime Minister has taken bold and decisive steps to break the chain of transmission. It is equally vital that this window is used for further ramping up measures to find, isolate, test, treat and trace.
WHO stands together in solidarity with India and its people and is committed to providing all the support that is needed,” says Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India.
A policewoman wears gloves as she stands to perform her duty, during a nationwide lockdown, imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in Jammu.
The Centre informed the Supreme Court Tuesday that it has taken “proactive and preemptive timely steps” to deal with the coronavirus pandemic due to which its spread is so far contained but fake news causing serious panic, is the “single most unmanageable hindrance” in the management of this challenge.
In a status report filed in the apex court, the government has given details of the steps taken, including enhancement of testing capacity and issuance of an order to purchase 40,000 ventilators to meet the contingencies, to prevent coronavirus or COVID-19 and its spread in the country.
It is a tough time but we all are in this together if we want this to end soon then we have to stay positive and follow all the steps given by the government i.e we should stay inside no matter what. So ‘stay safe, stay strong.’
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