Experts On COVID-19: Controlling Death Count Is Key, Not Rising Numbers

Virologists, epidemiologists and experts in the field are increasingly of the opinion that India should focus more on lowering the death count rather than look at rising numbers, according to a report. India should now move away from its testing and isolation strategy and instead look at ways to control the number of deaths, according to epidemiologists.

Testing for COVID-19, contact tracing and isolation in major hotspots may not help much because a large percentage of the population could already have the infection. Experts say that in cities like Mumbai and Delhi where there is the widespread transmission of the virus, the usual strategy of testing and isolation may not work anymore.

In cities like Mumbai and Delhi, we have gone past the stage of testing and isolation and must focus on controlling the severity of the infection and on lowering the death count, experts point out. Many individuals in Mumbai and Delhi are likely to have gone through the cycle of infection and would have recovered without their knowledge, they say.

The number of deaths per million (DPM) in India is a good pointer to where we stand, according to epidemiologists. Compared to the USA (351) and the UK (608) the DPM for India is 6.70, which is a healthy marker. Death toll is an important indicator, experts point while flagging the rising number of deaths across the country. The rate of fatalities is high in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi and needs to be lowered.

While the countrywide doubling rate has improved going up from 15.4 to 17 days, the focus, according to experts, should be on treating severe cases to control the death rate. This should be done by providing swift emergency treatment to the severely affected preparing oxygen beds and taking other such measures. States which utilized the lockdown period to prepare for a spike in COVID-19 cases stood to gain in that they were better prepared with ready treatment.

As of Saturday, India has recorded close 9,000 deaths and the total number of cases has shot past the 3 lakh mark. Epidemiologists maintain that patients with mild and moderate symptoms are rightly being advised to stay at home and go to a hospital in case they experience difficulty in breathing.

Experts recommend increasing the bed strength in hospitals and to be ready with oxygen support.

PM Modi to interact with CMs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to interact with chief ministers of states and union territories on June 16 and 17 on the coronavirus crisis in the country and measures to control the pandemic. The Centre is now asking states to focus on emerging hotspots in the country. Clinical management, increased testing and surveillance will also come in for discussion during the Prime Minister's interaction with the chief ministers.

PM Modi on June 17, will hold his scheduled interaction with chief ministers of Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and others, which are seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases. Barring Tamil Nadu, the other states are witnessing a high death count as well.