Amid several reports indicating that the number of Covid-19 cases will increase during the winter, the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan confirmed on Sunday that the possibility of the same happening in the Indian context cannot be ruled out. absolutely.
“SARS Cov 2 is a respiratory virus and the transmission of respiratory viruses is known to increase in colder climates. Respiratory viruses thrive best in cold, low humidity climates. There is another fact that must be taken into account. During winter, there is a tendency for residential apartments to become crowded which can increase transmission. So in the Indian context, it would not be wrong to assume that the winter season may see an increase in the number of cases, ”said the minister, addressing his weekly social media engagement program Sunday Samvaad.
Also read: ‘Ayurveda has a holistic approach’: Harsh Vardhan on Ayush-based Covid-19 treatment
The minister also cited the examples of European countries, especially the United Kingdom, where the number of infections has increased with the arrival of winter.
“Hence we emphasize precautionary measures that are easy to follow. Wear the mask and maintain social distancing, ”said the minister, with a note of caution.
Click here for full Covid-19 coverage
According to the model made by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences, winter can be extremely challenging. It has forecast a spike in hospital admissions and deaths in January / February 2021.
The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) recently warned that Delhi is likely to report around 15,000 Covid-19 cases a day in winter.
“The winter months exacerbating respiratory illnesses … Patients may come from outside Delhi in large numbers … Patients coming from distant areas are likely to be more serious. Also, with festival-related gatherings, there could be a sudden spike in cases. Therefore, it is recommended that Delhi prepare for a daily increase of approximately 15,000 positive cases and arrange for hospital admissions of patients with moderate and severe illnesses amounting to approximately 20% of this increase, ”the NCDC said in a document. related to the revised Covid-19 Strategy for Delhi.
.
