Is the COVID pandemic finally coming to an end? Doctors share what they think – Times of India
While we still hear about COVID cases, they are now becoming as common as dengue or typhoid cases. And when the WHO said that “the end of the COVID pandemic is in sight,” it made many of us wonder if it’s time to put a severe and highly contagious COVID behind us. Let go of your anxiety and worries about catching the stress of? Let’s hear it directly from the doctors.
Dr. Ankur Phatarpekar, Director Cathlib and Interventional Cardiologist, Symbiosis Hospital, Mumbai
“As a cardiologist, I am seeing very few cases of COVID-19 in my OPD, and very few cardiac complications due to COVID-19. In the last 6 months I have seen almost no such patients. Anyone who has had a heart attack or had a heart attack. Complications of the disease due to covid. So, yes, as suggested by WHO, the pandemic is in the final stage. However, we all still have some Safety protocols should be followed to protect us from any further virus.”
Dr. Bahram Pardiwala, Director Internal Medicine, Wockard Hospital, Mumbai Central
“The COVID pandemic has now become localized resulting in community spread, and a certain degree of herd immunity. My opinion is that like the annual influenza shot, we should get an annual vaccination against COVID. will be required. We will still need to take proper precautions especially in crowded areas and crowded places to prevent spread. Also be vigilant about mutations and evolution of new strains and hence Vaccines will also have to be developed.For this purpose, it is also important that the general public is aware of the consequences of their own behavioral risks.
Dr. Vineet Arora, Director – Internal Medicine, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Shalimar Bagh
“The SARS COV2 virus has a natural tendency to mutate and adapt to the host environment which enables it to spread rapidly. We have seen the emergence of strains of COVID from alpha, beta, gamma, delta to omicron. There are subtypes as well. Each has varying degrees of virus transmissibility and immune evasion, and each successor is superior to its predecessor in terms of its ability to cause disease. Given this trend, this pandemic Convincing oneself about eradication becomes difficult and seems a bit premature, even though prevalent strains are proving to be weak strains in terms of mortality and morbidity.
Read more: Latest COVID Varieties of Symptoms
Dr Deepu TS, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amrita Hospital, Kochi
“From previous pandemics, our understanding is that for 2 to 3 years, the pandemic will become a major challenge. We can see the same in our daily lives, we can almost see schools and restaurants in pre-pandemic times. And are back with the opening of public spaces. In most countries restrictions are now nominal. Although the new CoVID case numbers are still giving us an indication that it is far from over, with new strains, but still the reality. is that it is no longer a fast-spreading disease that spreads across nations. The hypothesis is that the most infectious variant, the Omicron variant, is already present and that the now circulating variants are spreading around the world. Less likely to develop a more infectious form. Hybrid immunity in the population due to vaccination and early infection also increases the beginning of the end. So WHO is right that the end is in sight.
Dr Visveswaran Balasubramanian, Consultant Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad
“The COVID 19 pandemic has been quite devastating around the world with around 6.5 million deaths worldwide. However, recently we are seeing a decline in the number of active COVID 19 infections worldwide. The numbers may not reflect the actual incidence as there is a general trend of decreased active screening of patients for a COVID 19 infection especially in the current scenario of increased respiratory infections secondary to the flu. The rapid kits used for testing are not the gold standard diagnostic method and may miss some active infections.
In India in particular, although active COVID 19 cases are declining, we are seeing sporadic outbreaks of COVID 19 infections in isolation or with seasonal flu, and this is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in some high-risk patients. Is.
We have seen the emergence of mutant strains in the past as well, with delta and omicron variants being the most involved. While we wish we didn’t see the re-emergence of more mutants, this seems a realistic possibility with preliminary data in the future as well. As with all epidemics, the virus persists and it’s just that the various mutation types present are not associated with severe forms of infection in a relatively healthy population.
With the acceptance of social epidemiologic principles and active screening for COVID 19 infection in patients with upper respiratory tract infections, there is a significant possibility that we may see more mutants in the near future. As seen with influenza epidemics, vaccination, use of masks and avoidance of social gatherings among patients with high risk factors such as underlying diabetes, chronic kidney or heart disease and immunocompromised status can reduce its severity. Is. Early reporting and active screening of patients with respiratory symptoms should continue as this can help in early detection and ensure appropriate timely mitigation measures.”