The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday called for stringent implementation of public health and social measures as Covid-19 cases surged in most countries in the South-East Asia region, with some nations witnessing an exponential rise.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region said that, “All preventive and protective measures must be implemented with full earnestness by one and all. Authorities must implement situation-specific measures to arrest the further spread of the virus. People must adhere to these measures. Masks, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, ventilation and physical distancing is an absolute must.”
Though the Omicron variant of Covid-19 may appear to be less severe, it should not be dismissed as ‘mild’, she said. The highly infectious variant, which has emerged as the most predominant one, is already overwhelming health systems around the world, she pointed out, adding that globally the Omicron variant has led to hospitalisations and deaths.
“We must also not forget that not every Covid-19 case is an Omicron infection. Other variants including Delta are also circulating which, as we know, causes severe infections and deaths,” the Regional Director said. Each positive case of Covid-19 should, hence, be a cause of concern.
The covid-19 virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with each other, for example at a conversational distance. The virus can also spread in poorly ventilated indoor settings or crowded settings, Dr Singh said.
Often, infected people do not have symptoms or don’t know that they are carrying the virus, so it is important to ensure good ventilation by opening windows and doors when sharing an indoor space with other people. It is extremely important for people to wear well-fitting masks and avoid crowds, besides taking other precautions.