The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said the community spread of COVID19 virus has started in the country.
Media reports quoted Dr. VK Monga, the chairman of IMA Hospital Board of India, as saying: “This is now an exponential growth. Every day the number of cases is increasing by more than around 30,000.”
“This is really a bad situation for the country. There are so many factors connected with it but overall this is now spreading to rural areas. This is a bad sign. It now shows a community spread.”
COVID19 is now spreading to towns and villages where it will be very difficult to control the pandemic, Dr Monga said.
Dr Monga said, “Cases are penetrating down into towns and villages where it will be very difficult to control the situation.”
He added, “In Delhi, we were able to contain it, but what about interior parts of the country in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Madhya Pradesh (which may be the new hotspots)”
“All these issues are very important and the state governments should take full care and seek help of the Central government to control the situation,” he added.
He said the virus can be contained in two ways: 1. 70% of the population contracts the virus, and immunity is achieved; 2. Immunisation through vaccination.
“There has to be phases of trials then human trial, then efficacy and side effects. Also, importantly it has to be seen how long this immunity will last because most of the patients are unable to go beyond three months of immunity,” Monga said.
Till July 17, a total of 1,34,33,742 samples have been tested for COVID19, out of which 3,61,024 samples were tested on Friday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said.
With 34,884 positive cases in the last 24 hours, the total number of COVID19 infections in India increased to 10,38,716, including 26,273 deaths, 3,58,692 active cases and 6,53,751 recoveries.
Globally, more than 14 million people have been infected by the deadly virus and 602,656 have died.
It has taken just four days to climb to 14 million positive cases from 13 million recorded on July 13.