Kerala: Community spread places elderly at risk, say experts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More the local spread more affected the elderly population and it threatens an increase in the fatality rate. Out of the 62 deaths that have been reported in the state, 36 occurred in July and 26 deaths after July 15, which was the when the local spread shot up.
The 26 deaths reported in July were people above 60 years, including four returnees. "It is the phenomenon that has occurred the world over. In community spread the elderly population will be more affected. The perfect example is Italy where community spread increased the caseload among the elderly population. The fatality rate also increased because of this,’’ said Dr A Althaf, associate professor of community medicine, Manjeri medical college hospital. The quarantine and reverse quarantine initiatives succeeded initially when NRKs started returning. But it hasn't been effective since the local spread started shooting up.
"Now we have more cases and a lesser number of people under quarantine. We had more people under quarantine, lesser cases, and lesser fatality during the return of NRKs,’’ said Dr Althaf. The capital district recorded the highest number of deaths in the state: 11, of which ten were above 60. In July, when the local spread started peaking in the district, six deaths were reported. Six Covid victims in Ernakulam this month were also those above 60. "The elders are the most vulnerable. We have a population that is living with comorbidities. At the age of 60, we might have completed a living with comorbidity of 20 years. Hence people become more vulnerable after 60. The first Wuhan study showed that senior citizens are affected the most and no major changes have happened to the findings to date,’’ said Dr Arun N M, an internal medicine expert.
During the return of NRKs, only family clusters were reported and the senior citizens were well taken care of. Pathanamthitta was the perfect example where more senior citizens were put under quarantine with no casualty.