India fights COVID and misinformation. It’s not easy to fight unknown enemies. It’s even more challenging to fight misinformation.Its important to talk more about this now.
One major way Coronavirus spreads is by aerosol. So mask will protect.Central heating and air conditioning is a problem.
How long the virus is alive suspended in air depends on the temperature and relative humidity of a room.How far the aerosol will travel is also variable.
The Indian Government has advised a 10 m distance to prevent aerosol transmission.Some studies have shown transmission of aerosols even upto 21m.
What’s important to remember in this is even after vaccination,schools, shopping malls,multiplexes,restaurants will need to invest in redesigning their ventilation systems.Air conditioning will need to be rethought. Especially if it’s centralized.
Outdoors is safer than overcrowded indoors. Good ventilation is worth its weight in gold.
Vaccination even a single dose is 85 % protective. Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca have published studies regarding this.
DRDO’s Institue of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences and Dr.Reddys Laboratories have launched 2DG or 2 Deoxy glucose, a drug that will help reduce oxygen requirement in CORONA positive patients.
According to guidelines listed by AIIMS and ICMR, plasma therapy is not indicated.
Remdesivir, the drug everyone seemed to want only on Twitter from political gurus, has little or no scientific evidence backing its use.
Same with Tocilizumab, too, has limited evidence and needs to be used only under specific circumstances.
Mild cases of COVID 19 without shortness of breath and normal Sp02 don’t need oxygen at home.
Mucormycosis is a uncommon disease and happens under very specific conditions.
Random steroid use at home without a doctor’s prescription or supervision is dangerous.
If news channels and social media cause anxiety, limit your exposure to them.
Misinformation needs to be fought with logic and finding the source. Always look at the science behind treatments and the evidence as far as possible.
Do not forward or share any information without finding the primary citation.
Keep exercising at home and outdoors in open air to release endorphins and build immunity.Kids need this even more.Don’t forget to spend time in nature for improving your mental health.The fatigue is real.
If you are COVID positive with mild or no symptoms, remember to wear your mask at home and self-isolate.
Each and everyone should try to spread positivity and authentic information. If you stay, calm it’s easier to fight the evil of misinformation. Evil thrives in chaos.
Resources for more reading to help you stay ahead.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwup-that-helped-covid-kill/