HYDERABAD: When asked if they were maintaining social distancing, Covid-19 patients under treatment at
city hospitals gave a range of responses including: “Hum gale mein haath daalke ghumte sir’ (we roam about with hands on each other’s shoulders) and ‘nakko sir ham panch ek hi thali se khate, hamesha sath mein rehte’ (we five even eat from the same plate, we are always together).
Whether they were wearing
masks? The answer
doctors get on taking the behavioural history of Covid-19 patients: ‘Main mask sirf baat karne time nikalta hun’ (I only remove the mask when talking) and ‘
hum party mein mask utar ke video banaye’ (we removed the mask for making a video during our party). The responses have left health experts stumped.
Most patients currently undergoing treatment at city hospitals are the ones who have got infected a mere fortnight ago. “The situation we are witnessing now is a result of the exposure and behavioural trend 14 days ago. While mask compliance is improving slowly, about 10 to 14 days ago masks were not even seen on majority of people. In addition, a lot of people have not been cautious and have been attending parties and functions. This has led to direct exposed to a higher viral load. The current surge is primarily due to the irresponsible behaviour of people,” said Dr Kiran Madala, in-charge head of department of critical care at
Nizamabad Medical College.
People’s careless attitude has not only led to a rapid increase in cases, but has also brought in entire families and groups of friends to
Covid wards. “The group of five which said ‘hum gale mein hath dalke ghumte’, are all admitted at our hospital,” said Dr Ehsan Ahmed Khan, superintendent
Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (
TIMS).