Big relief from epidemic: WHO Chief Scientist said – Corona infection in India in endemic stage, now its spread rate is very low

WHO Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (File)

According to Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), Kovid-19 in India is now reaching the endemic stage. The rate of its spread has been much slower or less than before. Technically endemic stage means the effect of an epidemic is limited to a small number of people or a particular area. Along with this, the virus has also weakened. Apart from this, people also learn to live with this disease. Corona cases have decreased rapidly after the second wave in India.

Covaxin will get clearance
Questions are being asked on the clearance of WHO to the corona vaccine made in India, Covaxin. Regarding this, Soumya said – I am sure that the technical team of WHO will be satisfied with this and it will get the status of an authorized vaccine soon or by mid-September.

During an interview, the Chief Scientist of WHO said – Looking at the size, population and immunity status of India, it can be said that the cases will keep increasing. That is why we believe that India is reaching the endemic stage. Now it does not seem that the situation as it was a few months ago is as it is now. Yes, in areas where cases were low during the first and second wave or where infection levels were low, or vaccine coverage is low – cases may increase in the coming days.

focus on vaccination
Soumya said- We expect that by the end of 2022, we will have vaccinated 70% of the population. On the danger posed by Kovid to children, he said – parents need not be afraid. They will only have mild symptoms. So far they have been less affected by this disease and the same things have come to the fore in the surveys we have conducted. Serious symptoms have been found in very few children. But, despite this, we should keep preparing. There should be proper arrangements in the hospitals. Thousands of children have to be sent to the ICU, this will not happen.

Medicines are effective in preventing deaths, no evidence of this
Responding to a question on the use of Remdesivir, HCQ and Ivermectin, Soumya said – till now there is no evidence that the use of HCQ or Ivermectin reduced the rate of death. Therefore, we have not said anything about recommending these drugs as of now, because there is no proper basis for this. Regarding the fears of the third wave, he said – no prediction can be made about this.