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| ICMR’s second sero survey shows that India far from achieving herd immunity: Health Min |
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New Delhi: Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday that India is far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that people should continue following Covid-appropriate behaviour.
He cautioned that ICMR’s Sero survey report should not create a sense of complacency in people.
'The first sero survey of May 2020 revealed that the nationwide prevalence of novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73 per cent.
'Even the soon to be released second sero survey indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following COVID appropriate behaviour,' Dr Vardhan Said.
Answering questions posed by his social media interactors on the third episode of Sunday Samvaad, the Minister dispelled fears regarding the phased opening of schools and advised on proper protocol to be followed while visiting salons and hair-spa.
The Union Health Minister asked everyone to always raise awareness regarding COVID appropriate behaviors which he himself does by stopping his car and asking non-compliant people to wear their masks. He re-emphasized on the need for wearing masks even in places of worship.
He said “the Pandemic can only be fought when the Government and society work together in tandem.”
The Health Minister also coined the slogan: 'Do gaj kee dooree, aur thodee samajhadaaree, padegee korona pe bhaaree (Two yards, and a little sense, Will fall heavily on the corona).
Regarding wide usage of investigational therapies such as Remdesivir & Plasma Therapies, the Health Minister stated that the Government has issued regular advisories regarding their rational usage.
The private hospitals have also been advised against routine use of these investigational therapies.
The doctors in the States and UTs are being made aware of this through webinars and during the tele-consultation session of AIIMS, New Delhi.
On the emerging evidence that the disease not only impacts our lungs but other organ systems too, especially cardiovascular and renal, the Minister said that the Ministry of Health has already set up committees of experts to look into these facets of COVID-19 and ICMR is also studying this subject.
ICMR is also actively investigating and researching reports of reinfection and although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter.
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