The nation is battlingto contain the spread of the second wave of COVID-19 and this time even thegovernment has admitted that the wave carries a potential threat. In what comesas a caution for Indians, the Centre on Monday has asserted that not onlyoutside but, it is high time to start wearing masks even at home.
Addressing a pressbriefing on India’s current pandemic situation, Dr VK Paul, Member (Health),Niti Aayog, said people should not unnecessarily step outside home, wear a maskand should not call anybody to come over their place.
"If anyone fromyour tests positive for COVID-19, it is vital to wear a mask even indoors becausethis virus is transmissible and can harm others at home too. I would rather goon to say that the time has come that we start wearing a mask at home even otherwise,"Dr Paul said.
He added that as of now,we are just concerned to wear mask outdoors, but since the infection has spreadat a massive level, people should wear it while at home.
He further added thatmask is essential to be worn by the infected patient and should also stay inisolation in a separate room. As a precautionary measure, other family membersmust also wear a mask at home.
Referring to studies, Joint Secretary Union HealthMinistry, Luv Aggarwal said, "By not following physical distancing oneinfected person could infect 406 people in 30 days. Reducing physical exposureby 50 per cent, one person can only infect 15 people in 30 days. Reducing thephysical exposure by 75 per cent, one infected person can only infect 2.5people in 30 days."
He said that people must understand the importance offollowing Covid appropriate behaviour in controlling and managing theinfection. He pointed out that a mask coupled with physical distancing canlower the transmission risk. "Both a Covid infected person and an uninfectedperson not wearing a mask or maintaining physical distance have 90 per centrisk of virus transmission. There is a 30 percent risk of transmission when theinfected person is not wearing a mask and the infected person is wearing amask. There is a medium risk (five percent) of transmission when an infectedperson is wearing the mask and uninfected is not wearing," Aggarwal said.
He stated: "Transmission risk becomes low (1.5 percent) when both the people are wearing the mask. There is a negligible or lowestrisk when both (infected and uninfected person) are wearing a mask andmaintaining physical distance of six feet."
Dr. Paul clarified that women can take the Covid vaccineduring their menstrual cycle. "Yes, women can and should take the vaccineduring the menstrual cycle. There is no reason to postpone thevaccination," he Paul said.
AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said that unnecessarypanic among people is creating a rush at hospitals, shortage of drugs andoxygen. "Unnecessary panic causing rush outside hospitals, shortage ofessential drugs and oxygen. Misuse of oxygen is a major factor. If thesaturation is 94 percent or above, then there's no need to worry," Guleriaadded.
Aggarwal said, "Maharashtra has the highest activecaseload with 7,00,207 active cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.Most of the states have crossed their highest reported daily cases duringSeptember last year."
"Eight states -- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu -- have morethan 100,000 active Covid-19 cases," he said.
He explained that the union government is working onthree strategies to contain the virus spread -- Containment, ClinicalManagement and Community Engagement -- across the country.
On Monday,India forthe fifth consecutive day reported more than 3 lakh cases in a day.