NEW DELHI: The Covid-19 pandemic is far from over in India and there is no room for “false optimism” as numbers are rising rapidly with the easing of restrictions creating an atmosphere of fatalism, The Lancet said in an editorial.
“The epidemic in India is far from over, with a potentially enormous burden of mortality and morbidity to come unless public health measures are used and followed. Without clear and honest communication of the risks of Covid-19 to the population, it will be impossible to stop the epidemic, ”the editorial said.
“Most importantly, the rapidly growing number of cases, coupled with the continued relaxation of restrictions, is creating an atmosphere of fatalism mixed with false optimism that undermines the effective use of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as masks and physical distancing,” he added. .
He also raised concerns that the ICMR “departs from scientific evidence” to present an optimistic picture of the Covid-19 situation.
However, the editorial praised the early lockdown imposed by the government and said it helped increase the provision of tertiary care, including access to specialized equipment such as ventilators. He also acknowledged the rapid increase in testing in the country.
“India has also been at the forefront of efforts to develop and manufacture a vaccine, both through domestic vaccine candidates and manufacturers such as the Serum Institute of India that prepares production capacity for internationally developed vaccine candidates,” he said. the editorial.
“The epidemic in India is far from over, with a potentially enormous burden of mortality and morbidity to come unless public health measures are used and followed. Without clear and honest communication of the risks of Covid-19 to the population, it will be impossible to stop the epidemic, ”the editorial said.
“Most importantly, the rapidly growing number of cases, coupled with the continued relaxation of restrictions, is creating an atmosphere of fatalism mixed with false optimism that undermines the effective use of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as masks and physical distancing,” he added. .
He also raised concerns that the ICMR “departs from scientific evidence” to present an optimistic picture of the Covid-19 situation.
However, the editorial praised the early lockdown imposed by the government and said it helped increase the provision of tertiary care, including access to specialized equipment such as ventilators. He also acknowledged the rapid increase in testing in the country.
“India has also been at the forefront of efforts to develop and manufacture a vaccine, both through domestic vaccine candidates and manufacturers such as the Serum Institute of India that prepares production capacity for internationally developed vaccine candidates,” he said. the editorial.
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