Seventeen months to pandemic and two covid waves later, experts say we are better placed to handle the SARS-COV-2 virus.
If the first wave shows the importance of ‘testing, search & treatment’, the second wave underlines the importance of supporting therapy the need to ensure the supply of oxygen and keep patients who are seriously ill in the hurried position and the use of rational drugs such as antivirus and rational steroid rempies.
Malathhy Iyer spoke with members of the Covid-19 Task Force member Dr.
Rahul Pandit and Dr.
Shashank Joshi about how lessons from two waves would help better third wave management.
“The focus must work towards zero death in the third wave,” said Dr.
Joshi.
Increasing space between two Covid waves has been 100-120 days.
“This is what we observed over the past 17 months.
At present, we aim to stretch this gap to 200 days so we can vaccinate as many people as possible and reduce the third wave impact when it happens, “said Dr.
Pandit.
This can be done by observing the behavior that matches Covid and prevents crowding.
“It will be our best interest in using a mask until December 31, 2022.
It will be the best way to guarantee no interference in our lives,” adding Dr.
Pandit, who heads intensive care in Fortis Hospital, Mulund.
Delta variants, which cause The second wave has been shown to be “escaping ” vaccine antibodies, infecting some who have taken both vaccines.
Direct steps must unlock the “painful” and “calibrated way” so we can save lives.
More prepared when the first wave ended in October 2020, the public health system failed to use the time until the second wave began in February-March to improve the health system, as did during the second wave.
“During the second wave, it was only during the stretch point (peak) that we realized needed more oxygen and sequencing genes to see the earliest variants,” said Dr.
Pandit.
Mumbai is heaven during the second wave, compared to many other cities in India.
“Even though the health care system in Mumbai was stretched, we succeeded,” he said.
Dr.
Joshi said the doctor was rather uncertain during the first wave of how to treat patients as little about the virus.
“But within eight to 12 weeks, we understand patterns about Who will be serious and who needs to be hospitalized, “he said.
Mumbai focused on setting up a Jumbo Hospital and get a bed supporting oxygen that helped the wave above the second wave too.
The doctor checklist is ready in the last 17 months to know the virus better.
Detailed care protocols are in place.
“We now have antibody cocktails for patients with comorbidity.
We know medium patients will need steroids and that antivirus remedies cannot be given too early or late, ” said Dr.
Pandit.
It must be given to patients between the second and ninth infection day.
Dr.
Joshi said the completion time for today’s RT-PCR tests was lower now and there was quick access to a quick test.
“We know the red flag and have a checklist of the need to monitor temperature, oxygen saturation, sugar levels, among other parameters,” Add it.
Not only individual care, but public care has also been directed.