Stages of Coronavirus Outbreak
“Corona-virus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered corona-virus.”
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available.
There are total 4 Stages:
Stage 1. Imported Cases
Stage 2. Local Transmission
Stage 3. Community Transmission
Stage 4. Epidemic
Stage 1: Imported Cases
When the virus has been transmitted by people travelling from abroad. These are those who have traveled to virus-hit countries. It is the initial stages of the virus. In India the initial virus carriers are believed to be a group of Italians who later tested positive for COVID-19.
Stage 2: Local Transmission
When people come in contact with those who have a travel history to virus hit countries. It is the second stage. India is currently in the second stage of corona-virus outbreak.
Stage 3: Community Transmission
Community transmission is when a patient not exposed to any infected person or one who has traveled to the affected countries test positive. Large area get affected when community transmission takes place. India currently not reached this stage of virus outbreak.
Stage 4: Epidemic
This is the last stage of an outbreak. This is what happened in China when large masses got infected and there was an exponentially rising number of confirmed cases as well as deaths.
How we can keep it in stage 2-3:
Quarantine: Any one coming from countries affected by COVID-19 outbreak is being quarantined for 14 days regardless of symptoms.
Contact Tracing: If person has been found positive, everyone he or she may have come in contact with is put under surveillance. If they show any symptoms, they are tested and quarantined too.
Awareness: Public is being made aware of hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Preparation: Scaling up Infrastructure, Testing facilities, isolation beds and acute management of positive cases – taking place simultaneously.
Testing Capacity of India
Testing Labs | 51 |
Sample each lab can test daily | 90 |
Overall capacity for daily testing | 4,590 |
Utilization at present | 1.3% |
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