New Delhi: The coronavirus scare continues as the spread of the disease in several countries across the globe increases. In India, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday (January 15), the country logged 104 new coronavirus infections, while the number of active cases declined to 2,149.
In view of the fear of another pandemic wave and taking the necessary precautions, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines with respect to people who get infected by the deadly virus. WHO has updated its guidelines on mask wearing in community settings, COVID-19 treatments, and clinical management, as a part of a continuous process of reviewing the coronavirus situation around the world.
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Here is a quick look at the updated guidelines by WHO:
Isolation Is An Important Step:
People with COVID-19 symptoms should be isolated for at least 10 days after the symptoms appear. For those who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have any signs or symptoms, the isolation time can be five days. WHO also advises that a COVID-19 patient can be discharged from isolation early if they test negative on an antigen-based rapid test.
Wearing Masks Strongly Advised:
WHO continues to recommend the use of masks in public spaces, citing it as a key factor in the prevention of the deadly virus. The guidelines state that one should wear masks in the following situations:
If one has been recently exposed to COVID-19
When someone has or suspects they have COVID-19
When someone is at high-risk of severe COVID-19
Anyone in a crowded, enclosed, or poorly ventilated space
Also Read: Covid XBB.1.5 Variant Not Virulent In India As 90% Of Population Vaccinated: Doctor
COVID-19 Treatment And Other Recommendations:
The World Health Organization has extended its strong recommendation for the use of Ritonavir-Boosted Nirmatrelvir (also known as “Paxlovid”).The UN agency recommends the use of Paxlovid among mild or moderate COVID-19 patients, who are at high risk of hospitalisation. WHO has also reviewed the evidence on two other medicines, sotrovimab and casirivimab-imdevimab, and maintains strong recommendations against their use for treating COVID-19. These monoclonal antibody medicines lack or have diminished activity against the current circulating virus variants.
There are currently six proven treatment options for COVID-19 patients: three that prevent hospitalisation in high-risk individuals and three that save lives in those with severe or critical disease.
WHO recommended that pregnant or breastfeeding women with non-severe COVID-19 consult with their doctors at all stages of the virus’s treatment and medications.
Also Read: India Mandates Negative COVID-19 Report For Flyers From China Among Five Places From January 1
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diarrhoea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
