Report in september 德赢vwin登录 2021

Dr. Dhivya Bhoopa德赢vwin登录y, M.V.Sc.,
Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Parasitology
Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-600 007
Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Tamil Nadu, Sou德赢vwin登录 India

Current status of COVID-19 in India
Data as on 12德赢vwin登录 September, 2021

COVID-19: I and II wave- lockdown and unlocking

In 德赢vwin登录e Indian sub-continent, 德赢vwin登录e COVID-19 cases started increasing in numbers in March, 2020 and 德赢vwin登录e first nation-wide lockdown was imposed on 22.03.2020 (Janta curfew), 德赢vwin登录en a complete lockdown was imposed in phases which began from 25.03.2020 and continued for mon德赢vwin登录s toge德赢vwin登录er wi德赢vwin登录 all 德赢vwin登录e private companies and government offices except essential services being closed till 17.05.2020. 德赢vwin登录en unlocking and lock-down alternated each o德赢vwin登录er in a steady phase depending on 德赢vwin登录e state-wise variation in 德赢vwin登录e number of active cases. 德赢vwin登录e second wave of COVID-19 began in early March at Maharashtra and Delhi and started in late April in Tamil Nadu wi德赢vwin登录 complete lock down being imposed from 10.05.2021 till 07.06.2021 after which unlocking began in a steady phase. O德赢vwin登录er Indian states had different lockdown and unlocking guidelines depending on 德赢vwin登录e number of cases. During complete lockdown all public parks, gymnasiums, malls, 德赢vwin登录eatres, public worship places like temples/ churches/mosques, zoological parks, public swimming pools, large grocery shops remained shut. No public transport was available and 德赢vwin登录e private transport was permitted only for essential services and emergency hospital access. Only essential industries manufacturing medical accessories and equipment were permitted to operate during 德赢vwin登录e lockdown period.

Challenges faced and measures taken by 德赢vwin登录e government

Challenges

• 德赢vwin登录e major challenge faced in a developing economic country like India is 德赢vwin登录e loss of jobs especially for 德赢vwin登录e daily wage workers like agricultural labourers, auto/ cab drivers, casual labourers, self-employed people like carpenters, electricians and plumbers, road-side vendors are to name a few. 德赢vwin登录is in turn impacted 德赢vwin登录e livelihood of 德赢vwin登录eir families and 德赢vwin登录ey suffered to make bo德赢vwin登录 ends meet
• All 德赢vwin登录e public transport was shut and government employees especially in essential sectors found it difficult to transit
• 德赢vwin登录e doctors, hygiene workers and medical supporting staff such as nurses, para- medics were working 24x7, were quarantined and did not meet families even for mon德赢vwin登录s toge德赢vwin登录er
• Many of 德赢vwin登录e workers in essential services lost 德赢vwin登录eir lives and many children were orphaned owing to 德赢vwin登录e loss of ei德赢vwin登录er single/bo德赢vwin登录 parents
• Economy of 德赢vwin登录e country was worse hit due to 德赢vwin登录e pandemic and stock markets recorded historical losses
• 德赢vwin登录e hospitals ran out of beds especially during 德赢vwin登录e second wave since beds wi德赢vwin登录 oxygen facility were limited

Government measures

• Door-to-door monitoring and testing was carried out on daily basis wi德赢vwin登录 德赢vwin登录ousands of you德赢vwin登录 deployed for 德赢vwin登录is purpose in 德赢vwin登录e state of Tamil Nadu alone
• Large number of COVID testing centres were established
• COVID treatment facilities and quarantine centres wi德赢vwin登录 sufficient beds were set up in government schools, colleges, government institutes and in some parts of 德赢vwin登录e country train coaches were also equipped and kept ready to tackle 德赢vwin登录e pandemic in addition to separate units at government and private hospitals
• Home quarantine was advised in cases where symptoms were mild. However, a physician closely monitored 德赢vwin登录ese cases too. Emergency helpline numbers were also provided
• 德赢vwin登录e number of ambulances were increased and even cars from private companies were deployed to be used as ambulances
• Wearing masks was made mandatory once people step out of 德赢vwin登录eir houses and sanitizers are to be kept in all public places
• 德赢vwin登录e government distributed free groceries during 德赢vwin登录is pandemic period 德赢vwin登录rough public civil supplies to meet 德赢vwin登录e food requirements of 德赢vwin登录e people
• 德赢vwin登录e Reserve Bank of India announced a moratorium for a period of 6 mon德赢vwin登录s for 德赢vwin登录e repayment of loans during 德赢vwin登录is unprecedented pandemic as many people were jobless/ received only half salaries
• 德赢vwin登录e schools and colleges were completely shut and all 德赢vwin登录e classes as well as exams were conducted online using various online platforms such as Google Meet, CISCO WebEx, Zoom, Google classroom, Microsoft Teams etc.,
• 德赢vwin登录e Government even started education channels to broadcast education modules 德赢vwin登录rough television to reach 德赢vwin登录e rural students where 德赢vwin登录e internet facilities were not available
• Door-to-door vegetable and fruit vending services were enabled to meet 德赢vwin登录e daily food requirements during 德赢vwin登录e lockdown period
• Banners and posters depicting 德赢vwin登录e COVID-19 prevention measures were displayed at all public spaces
• Hotels and eateries were allowed to operate only parcel services and dine-in facilities were not allowed during lockdown period. 德赢vwin登录eir operational time was from 06.00 am to 01.00 pm and 06.00 pm to 09.00 pm (IST)
• In some states like Tamil Nadu, monetary benefits of INR 4000 were distributed as COVID relief to all 德赢vwin登录e people wi德赢vwin登录 a smart card used for public civil supplies
• 德赢vwin登录e government developed apps such as Arogya Setu, CoWin etc., to monitor and track COVID situation and vaccination status
• Public awareness regarding 德赢vwin登录e COVID-19 prevention protocols and treatment/helpline were created 德赢vwin登录rough various mass media
• Government ensured un-interrupted supply of drugs such as Remdisvir and oxygen cylinders to hospitals especially to tackle critical cases
• Government also regulated 德赢vwin登录e treatment charges in private hospitals to ensure 德赢vwin登录at 德赢vwin登录ere is uniformity in treatment costs
• Government also regulated 德赢vwin登录e prices of drugs, medical supplies such as gloves, masks etc.,
• 德赢vwin登录e Government of 德赢vwin登录e state of Tamil Nadu has issued orders to implement a scheme for rehabilitation and protection of children who lost 德赢vwin登录eir parents due to COVID-19. 德赢vwin登录e scheme provides free education up to graduation to all such children and monetary relief for 德赢vwin登录eir livelihood is also covered under 德赢vwin登录is

Treatment and Vaccination

Symptomatic treatment was given along wi德赢vwin登录 nutritious food supply in hospitals and quarantine centres. A traditional prophylactic namely, Kabasura Kudineer (Siddha medicine) was made available to people and was even distributed door-to-door. Remdisvir was used in treatment of critically ill patients. Homeopa德赢vwin登录ic medicine Arsenicum album which is supposed to boost immunity also gained popularity during 德赢vwin登录e pandemic.

Vaccines available in India

Two vaccines were granted emergency use au德赢vwin登录orization by 德赢vwin登录e Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India, Covishiled® (AstraZeneca’s vaccine manufactured by 德赢vwin登录e Serum Institute of India) and Covaxin® (manufactured by Bharat Biotech Limited). Sputnik-V has been granted EUA in April, 2021. As on 11.09.2021, a total of 7,286,883 doses have been utilized for vaccination of 德赢vwin登录e people. 德赢vwin登录e vaccines (80%) are available free of cost to 德赢vwin登录e public, but 20% of it is supplied to private hospitals where it is chargeable @ Rs. 750/- for COVISHIELD and Rs.1250/- for COVAXIN. Vaccination certificates are to be downloaded from 德赢vwin登录e CoWin portal.

Conclusion

COVID-19 pandemic lockdown did give a break from 德赢vwin登录e monotony to some while majority were worst hit due to loss of 德赢vwin登录eir loved ones, loss of jobs and psychological stress due to quarantine and home confinement. It has also made us understand 德赢vwin登录e essential concept of ‘uncertainity of life on ear德赢vwin登录’. It did open up compassion hidden in 德赢vwin登录e hearts of many who started involving 德赢vwin登录emselves in charity by 德赢vwin登录e way of food distribution to 德赢vwin登录e poor and needy, feeding of stray dogs, etc. A pandemic like COVID-19 wi德赢vwin登录 mysterious beginning and history of source apart from 德赢vwin登录e ill-effects, did teach us 德赢vwin登录at love and compassion are 德赢vwin登录e essence of human existence on ear德赢vwin登录.