Nagpur: A lot of government employees, professionals, college students who were fortunate to remain Covid-free are testing positive now as the cases in the city are going north.
Doctors and public health authorities say once again people are getting the news about every other person in their community, workplace, club or social group testing positive.
This is akin to the situation seen during the July to September phase last year when the city recorded most of its Covid cases, they say.
What marks a clear difference between the public mood then and now is that people are not ready to ‘listen’ or even take precautions as they had been doing at the peak of Covid.
“People are asking what is corona. Does it even exist?” said a doctor.
Cardiologist Dr Aziz Khan said people so far not infected have to be more cautions because, as per feedback he has got, the infectivity is more this time. “Lung shadows (infecton) are being seen early. I would tell people not to remove mask, avoid going to crowded places as far as possible,” he said.
Dr Khan added that he too is taking utmost precautions as he hasn’t tested Covid positive thus far. Asked about people’s attitude, he said, “They are not aware about the disease. Arguments like ‘till today nothing happened so what will happen now’ are made. We tell them ‘You will not know when the virus will attack you. Don’t take this wave lightly’.”
Infectious disease specialist Dr Nitin Shinde said contact tracing and distancing are not practical in a country like ours. “So mask and vaccination, whenever it is made available, hold the key. Any susceptible person will get infected sooner or later. The good thing is now we know how to treat it. People must stay safe but need not panic. Go for early diagnosis, early treatment,” he said.
GMCH medical superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande observed that people in general have no worries about Covid. “While it depends on one’s immunity, chances of getting infected remains. Hence they shouldn’t take any chances, “ he said.
Orthopaedic Dr Sushrut Babhulkar felt a brief spell of lockdown or night curfew would remind people about the danger of Covid. “That’s the way of teaching people. Right now, we are concerned about post Covid complications rate which is going up,” he said.