"Next 40 days to be crucial for India"
While people have started preparing for the new year as the fear around COVID variant BF.7 looms high, sources from the union health ministry have told news agency (PTI) that the next 40 days will be crucial as India may see a surge in COVID-19 cases in January. The official sources have referred to the pattern of previous outbreaks, the agency has said.
What is the COVID pattern seen in India?
“Previously, it has been noticed that a new wave of COVID-19 hits India around 30-35 days after it hits East Asia.... This has been a trend,” an official told PTI.
The source added that though infection cases may rise, the severity will be less and even if there is a fresh COVID wave, deaths and hospitalization will be very low.
What do we know so far about the BF.7 variant?
So far we are aware that the BF.7 sub variant of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is responsible for the massive infection wave in China where each day millions of people are getting infected.
We also know that the BF.7 variant was first reported in India months back in July. But it did not lead to a surge in cases back then.
Not just this, before the COVID spike happened in China the BF.7 variant was found in 91 countries.
What are the symptoms seen in patients infected with the BF.7 variant?
People infected with the BF.7 variant show symptoms like runny nose, cough, sneezing, and fever.
People are also experiencing diarrhea and vomiting.
So far, BF.7 variant induced infection does not have any classic symptom. The symptoms seen in people are similar to those which were seen in the previous waves of COVID.
The biggest risk in case of BF.7 variant is that it has a dominant transmissibility rate than other variants. A person infected with the sub-variant can further infect 16 persons.
Why is 'panic' not the right word here?
For the last two years people have been living in fear. In 2020 when the virus was first discovered in a wet market in Wuhan, China and when it was declared a global pandemic within a few weeks panic gripped the entire world.
In India, due to sudden lockdown people were forced to stay indoors. Those who had migrated to other states for work had to walk back to their native places.
Comparatively, the socioeconomic effect of the pandemic has improved in several ways. Regarding the medical aspect of the infection, people now have lots of information to refer to. Several studies have been conducted on the coronavirus and the effect it has on infected people.
Testing and surveillance have also become easier.
Moreover now we are more used to the anti-COVID protocols, hence 'remaining aware' is the right phrase now.
How to remain aware of COVID?
COVID infection transmits from an infected individual to a healthy individual. Hence the onus lies in stopping the spread of the virus from the infected person to others. For this, barriers like face masks, keeping hands sanitized and maintaining a physical distance of at least 1 feet from the concerned person should be followed. If you have been found positive for COVID you should isolate yourself till the incubation period of the virus is over.
Timely vaccine and booster doses can also improve the immunity against the COVID infection. Meanwhile, the Indian government has added one more vaccine in its preparedness against rising COVID infections. Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine has been added to the CoWIN portal for administration to those above 18 years of age.
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