“We have started understanding the nature of Covid-19 virus better, as it is now one-year-old. Are we dealing with the virus correctly to limit its spread? I think the answer is a big No,” asserted Dr Shubhangi Deshmane, noted Gynaecologist and Obstetrician. Dr Deshmane pointed out, “One year back we had the ‘Fear of The Unknown’. Hence taking extreme steps to protect ourselves was mandatory. Enforced lockdowns, keeping ourselves locked all the time, not socialising, masking, using tons of sanitizers and soaps, had and has become a way of life. People needed to be educated about the proper usage of all the above things to avoid getting seriously affected by the virus. A few facts need to be cleared.

 

Coronavirus is here to stay with us, how long is a million dollar question.” Expressing satisfaction over the awareness about COVID-19 created by administration, Dr Deshmane elaborated, “During the past one year, Government and the administration has given us proper and adequate education regarding the safety measures to be taken repeatedly, through ringtones, advertisements etc. I bet, in our country, we will not find a single person who is not aware of the virus and the measures to be taken to avoid it. Now even my 15-month-old granddaughter knows that we have to wear masks once we step out. The Government has done enough to contain the virus, in the last one year. Now, its role in managing the virus is over. Government should rather concentrate on massive vaccination drive, so that in about a year from now 80% of our population is vaccinated. For that they need to set up mobile units in every locality and ensure that each one above 18 years is vaccinated.”

 

“The RTPCR tests which are done randomly to catch hold of the asymptomatic carriers should immediately stop. The rising numbers stated daily by the media is only adding panic amongst the citizens and confusion amongst the administrators,” Dr Deshmane felt. The final call on what tests are to be done, on whom and when to be done, treatment strategies, patient’s hospitalization, should be taken by medicos and not anybody else, added Dr Deshmane. “We are in the second phase of the infection, where the number of cases are steadily rising despite lockdowns- Whose fault is it? Certainly the fault lies with the careless attitude of the people. Going out unnecessarily, overcrowding, attending functions in large numbers, visiting bars, spitting, not using masks correctly, all are adding up to increase in the number of fresh cases,” commented Dr Deshmane.

 

Dr Deshmane said, “Despite knowing that carelessness can lead to acquisition of serious disease, adequate precautions are not being taken by the public. If someone don’t wear a helmet and meets with an accident, that individual has to face the music. Like any other disease, let the careless patients who suffers from Covid-19 infection now decide if they have to see a doctor, whether they want to visit a Government hospital and get free treatment or visit a private hospital and get treated bearing all necessary expenses. It’s the job of professional doctors to manage a disease and high time they are given a free hand in managing, without interference from the administrators.”

 

“Partial or complete lockdowns with innumerable cops manning the squares checking two-wheelers and four-wheelers and punishing the drivers with heavy fine if not with masks is a futile exercise and total wastage of manpower. Instead they should be deployed in busy areas like markets, vegetable shops, grocery stores where no rules of masking or social distancing are observed. High time that everybody other than medicos should do the things they are good at and let the professional doctors do their job. If mass vaccination with no age bar is encouraged we can expect atleast flattening of the curve,” suggested Dr Deshmane.