Doctors advise caution as 64 more get Covid-19

LUCKNOW: The rise in daily Covid-19 cases and a death in the past one week have come as an alarm bell which needs to be taken seriously, said experts while appealing people not to ignore safety protocols in the coming days.
As many as 64 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the count of active cases to over 200 mark (225). At least 10 patients are admitted to various hospitals of whom the condition of two, including a woman undergoing treatment at the King George's Medical University, (KGMU) is serious. Earlier, more than 66 Covid-19 cases 75 were reported last year on August 27, 2022.
In the past two weeks there has been a significant increase in Covid-19 positivity rate - the number of samples tested positive per 100. It has increased more than four and a half times from 0.6 to 2.8.
Prof Anil Kumar Gulati, former head of the department of microbiology at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, said, "People have stopped wearing masks, washing hands and following Covid-19 protocols. They should know that a major variant (Omicron) is highly infectious and can evade immunity generated through vaccination or infection."
"Though Omicron does not cause serious illness, it can prove fatal for elderly people and those with co-morbidities," he said.
Chief medical officer Dr Manoj Agarwal said, "Though vaccination reduces the chances of severe disease, people should understand that they can still get infected and pass the virus on to others. Hence, people need to follow the protocol needed." Medical superintendent, KGMU Prof D Himanshu said, "The administration should ensure that people wear masks and sanitize their hands while participating in Eid, Baisakhi and other festivities. People should avoid large gatherings at any event."