There was a huge emphases of Social Distancing; Wearing of mask and Hand washing or use of sanitizer in the initial period of India being exposed to NOVEL CORONA PANDEMIC which seems to be reminded to all of us when we are completing stages of releasing Lockdown. People have started coming out of their houses as if released from jails. The epidemiologists are expecting a huge wave of infections and deaths due to this behavior. As a family doctor here we want to prepare our society to POSITIVLY PREPARE TO SURVIVE WITH CORONA CASES AROUND. So is the theme of GPA this year, ‘Aude Sapere’ Dare to be wise, dare to accept the journey from Knowlwdge towards Wisdom. I’m saying positively because there is a hope of developing Herd Immunity towards this infection which can protect us as well as will help in breaking further future transmissions of COVID -19 to newer uninfected population of society. I’ll like to make an appeal to all my doctor colleagues below age of 60 and/or are free from any major co-morbidity to start their practice with complete universal care.
While we are talking about CORONA, first let’s understand what Herd Immunity is. By definition “Herd immunity is the phenomenon of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, either through previous infections or vaccination, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune.” The greater the share of immune individuals in a community, the smaller the probability that susceptible individuals will come into contact with an infectious
individual, helping to shield non immune individuals from infection. A very satisfying concept but according to the calculation of epidemiologists, the 70 immune people will shield the remaining susceptible 30 from Covid infection. So again it’s a long way to go. Therefore we as medical family physicians want our society to understand Basic Fundamental Law of Protection. It says,’ Consider everyone around you as Covid positive and you’ve to protect
yourself from it. Also think as if you are one asymptomatic carrier of Covid infection to society, so it’s your responsibility to not to let it spread it from you to others. To suggest certain guidelines for our society to bring into action:
Guidelines for change into basic Life-style:
a) Social distancing
b) Mask whenever outside house even if asymptomatic
c) Hand Hygiene (Washing minimum30- 40 seconds, and use of sanitizer)
d) Avoid going out unless not necessary, avoid frequent In& Out pattern Complete possible works in one visit only Guidelines when you will start job/work after lockdown
a) Whenever possible choose Work from Home’ option
b) Try doing your work yourself instead of relying on cleaning assistant/ food serving etc
c) Social distancing, Hand Hygiene and use of mask is a MUST
d) Do not lower the mask in between to talk to colleague or to have tea/coffee, instead remove it with clean hands while eating and keep inside a drawer on a tissue keeping frontal side on tissue
e) At work place use of stairs instead of lifts, social distancing needs to be focused
f) Habit of cleaning/ disinfecting your sitting pace, table, door & drawer knobs regularly
g) Instead of AC, prefer open window for ventilation of fresh air
h) Bring lunch from home, avoiding sharing of food/water/stationery
i) No handshake in greeting, touching elbow or Namaste is the Best!
j) No turning pages/counting money with saliva wet finger
k) No spitting, Respiratory etiquettes of sneezing &coughing are MUST to follow
l) Avoid wearing rings, watch/ bracelets in hands to prevent sources of contamination After returning home:
a) Footwear outside the house, Bag etc at the door step
b) Bath is the best, if not possible Washing exposed body parts with soap & water
c) Change of clothes is necessary (keep one set of clothes ready before leaving house)
d) Disinfection of your bag/purse, keys, office bag, grocery bag etc with suitable disinfectant Last but important, check yourself regularly for Covid related symptoms as Fever, Sore throat, dry cough, loss of smell, breathlessness or chest pain/heaviness and breathlessness when examined SpO2(Oxygen saturation capacity of blood in our body) is reduced below 94%. If any of the alarming change noticed, don’t forget to consult your doctor immediately.
Stay Safe from Corona, not from relations and responsibilities!
Dr Rupa Agarwal
President GPA 2020-2021