‘Dist admn feels Covid peak will arrive in mid-September’

Being an organisation that highlights the issues related to doctors and paramedical staff who are at the forefront in the war against Covid, the Indian Medical Association(IMA) does have a take on the war against the pandemic and how it can be checked. Ludhiana chapter of the IMA has been very vocal on the issues related to Covid. It’s president Dr Sunil Katyal talks to TOI’s Shariq Majeed on the current Covid situation in the district and ways to check it
1. How do you see the current Covid scenario in Ludhiana district?
Covid-19 cases are rising at a rapid pace in Ludhiana and the situation is alarming. It tops the state tally of cases as well as deaths. Ludhiana being the industrial town of the state is most densely populated and inter-state movement of people related to business is also more as compared to other cities. These factors attribute to an increase in the number of cases in the city.
2. Do you think that there is adequate infrastructure to meet the worst scenario. Has the peak arrived in the district?
District administrators, IMA and other NGOs are trying their best to fulfil all requirements in the treatment of Covid patients. As of now, many patients, especially sick patients, have to wait for a few hours to get a bed in a hospital. To cope up with the situation, the IMA has created 25-bedded facility for Covid patients. It is functioning as per government protocols. If the situation continues like this or worsens in the coming days, we may need to convert one or two major hospitals into complete Covid units. The Covid situation in Ludhiana is worsening with each passing day. I don’t think the peak has arrived. The district administration feels that the peak will arrive in mid-September, but nobody can be sure about it.
3. Do you think that the strategy adopted by the district administration is working?
In the recent past, the state government has framed new rules like imposition of night curfew, weekened lockdown, use of online services, ban on gatherings except weddings and funerals and working of offices with 50% staff only. Ludhiana IMA has also started telemedicine services. All these efforts have been done to minimise movement of people so that spread of Covid is checked. We need to implement these restrictions more strictly and one who doesn’t follow the rules should be punished. In addition, people should be educated regarding general precautions and severity of the disease as well.
4. What should be done to check the rising cases?
You are safe if your surroundings are safe. So in addition to public awareness regarding preventive measures and implementation of government norms more strictly, testing should be increased further so that more cases are diagnosed and isolated. Proper contact tracing also helps in minimising the spread, which cannot be checked without the coperation of public. I use this platform to request everybody to keep your mouth and nose covered with mask, maintain physical distance, wash your hands frequently and in case somebody falls sick, immediately consult a doctor. How to reach a doctor if someone develops symptoms should be planned beforehand.
5. What should the government do to ensure that fatalities due to disease are checked?
The number of Covid cases and deaths are maximum in Ludhiana, rather it has become the Covid capital of the state. We need to create more ICU beds so that all patients get treatment in time. We need to have dedicated Covid centres in the city.
6. Do you think Ludhiana district has entered community spread and what makes you believe that?
India is the third worst-hit country by the Covid-19 pandemic in the world after the United States and Brazil. The situation in Ludhiana is like community spread only as people are getting infected without knowing the source.