It may take 2-4 weeks to flatten the Coronavirus curve in India, says Union Minister for Health Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Despite government’s effort to curb the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in the country, the graph is continuously going up. As on today, India has registered more than 2,000 Corona case and almost 60 deaths.

To understand the increasing number of cases, aggressive testing, importance of lockdown period and community transmission, a media outlet interviewed Union Minister for Health Dr. Harsh Vardhan.

Following is an excerpt from the interview with Dr. Harsh Vardhan:

Q1. Why the corona graph is getting higher day by day and when do you think the graph will flatten?

Ans. It may take 2-4 weeks, we recommend quarantine for 14 days, based on the incubation period of the infection. Only after this incubation period of 14 days, we expect a change in trajectory in corona graph which may flatten.

Q2. How important lock down period is according to you?

Ans. It is very important for all the citizen as it slows down the epidemic and flattens the curve, it also puts constrain on social system which helps in avoiding the spread of Coronavirus. We also recommend social distancing even after the lockdown period is over. It will be important to see how the epidemic graph or curve will looks like after two weeks.

Q3. Do you think Lock down period should be extended?

Ans. Situation is still evolving, we will not give up till last person of India gets rendered. I want to appeal that staying at home is the only possible way to stay safe.

Q4. There are lot of discussion going on about community transmission and India entering stage 3. Is it true or just a gossip?

Ans. There is no clear globally accepted definition of community transmission, there are no as such community led transmission cases, most of the cases are from international travels, rest from small clusters, so we can say there is no sign of community led virus infection in India yet. However we are doing campaigning on every platform about social distancing and ensuring tight lock down.

Q5 How close are we towards Vaccine?

Ans. India is a part of International efforts to find cure such as Multi Country “Solidarity Trial” of WHO and some of the agents are under investigation such as remdesivir, lopinavir, fevipiravir, hydroxycholoquine, azithromycine. However new evidences are emerging daily.

Q6.What is the biggest Challenge in fighting Covid-19 crises?

Ans. First of all our focus is to prevent deaths of elderly patients and heart patents. Timely dissemination of public health advisory and misinformation spread over social media platforms are other challenges.

Q7. What about testing in rural areas? Are we going to increase it in coming times?

Ans. We have Pan India testing capacity and we are testing more samples every day, we have 124 government labs and 49 private labs approved by ICMR, but still we will increase our testing capacity, though the limited resources should be used on directly or indirectly affected persons only. 53,605 people have been tested as on 1st April.

Q8. Are state governments cooperating with central government in this crises?

Ans. I have been in touch with state health ministers’ right from the beginning. I must commend them for the work and cooperation in helping us to control this epidemic in India. All the states are ensuring lockdown, quarantine, isolation, and allowing necessary items for the public within social distancing awareness.

Q9. What is your message to the medical community?

Ans. This is an unexpected and unprecedented crisis which has affected the humankind as a whole. My heart full gratitude to all of our health workers and supporting workers who are taking care of patients, they are our Corona warriors. My message is simple that nation shall never forget their sacrifice.