New Delhi, Nov 22 (UNI) Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday compared the ongoing pandemic to a transitory state of our civilization.

“We have not seen the Spanish Flu, World War I, and World war II. But we are living in a phase of a silent

war. Over 100 million people perished. And in many cases, they could not be visited by their dear ones during the last moments of life.Their last-rites and funerals were also had to be done very humbly. And those millions who survived also have many complications, besides the financial burden put on them," he said.

Dr Vardhan digitally addressed the Boston Center of Excellence for Health and Human Development through a videoconference and congratulated for bringing together experts to research a better cure and better healthcare for all.

Saluting millions of front-line health workers who bravely carried on with their duty in spite of risk and adversity, including professionals other than doctors and nurses like the janitors, the EMT, ambulance doctors who are unseen pillars of the health care system, the minister elaborated India’s strategy to contain COVID.

“It is not the first one and definitely not the last one. But this COVID 19 will soon be a

past episode of the 21st century. Our treatment protocol for COVID patients is well defined now. Fewer and fewer people infected are dying. We will have vaccines available very soon, and the cases will significantly go down in the next few months,” he said.

The Health Minister said the vaccines will soon be available and the cases are likely to reduce significantly in the upcoming months.

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