UK Variant Of Coronavirus Is Spreading Four To Six Times Faster: Member Of Gujarat COVID Task Force

Ahmedabad: The UK variant of coronavirus was spreading “four to six times faster” in Gujarat and the “second wave” of infections was no less than a war, a member of the state task force on the outbreak said on Friday (April 9). Gujarat has seen a sharp spike in cases over the last few days, with Thursday witnessing 4,021 COVID-19, the highest single-day jump so far, taking the state’s caseload to 3,32,474. “What we are facing right now is the UK variant of coronavirus. This is spreading four to six times faster than the previous variants. As a result, if one person contracts the virus, his immediate family members are also turning positive very quickly,” Dr VN Shah, well-known diabetologist and member of state government’s task force, said.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Terms ‘Tika Utsav’ Beginning Of Second Big War Against Coronavirus, Makes Four Requests

He added that “SMS”, or “social distancing, mask and sanitiser” would be the key in the fight against the outbreak, while vaccination will be an important component in achieving herd immunity. Dr Shah said a mass movement was needed to promote “SMS” and committees needed to be formed even at rural levels to create awareness and fight the pandemic.

This is a war and we all need to join hands to win it, Dr Shah added.

Dr Dileep Mavlankar, director of Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar stressed on a detailed research of this new variant in order to build a better response against it.

We need to conduct an epidemiological study. We need to investigate why people who have been vaccinated are getting infected or why people are getting infected for the second time. We must conduct research to check whether the vaccine has retained its efficacy against the virus, said Dr Mavlankar.

Dr Tejas Patel, also part of the state government’s task force, stressed on mass vaccination to build herd immunity and asked people not to believe in false propaganda about vaccine side effects.

Also Read: Mutants, Sluggish Vaccine Drive, Carelessness: Add Them And You Get COVID Surge, Say Top Scientists

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. 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 highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. 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 diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.