NAGPUR: Doctors treating
Covid patients say each positive patient is infecting a couple of family members within 10 to 15 minutes of close contact. More than one member is needing hospitalization this time, and close contacts too are turning symptomatic, they say.
Pulmonologist
Dr Ashok Arbat said with lockdown the rate of infectivity is 0.6 in first five days, while it is 2.5 without a lockdown. Similarly, a positive person can spread infection to 406 persons without lockdown in 30 days, but to only 2.5 with lockdown in the same span, he said.
Sengupta Hospital director Dr Shantanu Sengupta said even if there is one patient in the family he ends up infecting all. “Within six hours, the entire family is at risk of getting infected if they don’t follow norms properly. Those who are unable to isolate themselves, such families remain affected for 15 days. They face challenges like who will cook, and how they will maintain safe distance,” he said.
Kingsway Covid incharge Dr Harashvardhan Bora said infectivity is such that even 15 minutes of exposure is enough to spread the disease within family or close contacts.
GMCH medical superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande said they have observed that at least 25 persons, which could be neighbours, co-workers, employees or family members, are getting infected by each patients.
Dr Mohammad, director of Criti Care Hospital, said it is difficult to say how many persons are getting infected from one patient in the current situation. “People don’t have proper isolation facility, separate rooms, toilet, bathroom, well ventilated rooms. Isolation implementation is not proper. Out of panic patient are visiting scan centres where they accidentally get infected. Even improper use of basic mask increases chances of catching the virus,” he said.
Pulmonogist Dr Ravindra Sarnaik suggested people must use mask within their home also. “One after other, family members get infected. Last year, as part of containment, if one was positive entire colony or area used to be sealed though that time not many would get infected. Now, the scenario has changed. Society must understand asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic are two phases to control the pandemic. These phases are the time when people bring infection home,” he said.