IMA Statement on COVID-19

New Delhi: Pointing out at the second wave of COVID, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has recently issued a statement asking the government and the citizens not to go off guard against the coronavirus.

While admitting that widespread of the virus had been under control amidst the spike via the coordinated services rendered timely by the government and private modern medical healthcare providers, the association added, that the stage is not ripe to call it the end of the pandemic.

In a press release signed by IMA president, Dr. J A Jayalal and Dr. Jayesh M Lele, Honorary Secretary General, IMA said, "Unauthorized political statements may invoke a false sense of security and hence the Association whose 740 frontline warriors had lost their lives in this war against Corona urged all the countrymen to be vigilant on wearing mask, physical distancing, and hygiene and take vaccination to get yourself immunity and altruistic health contribution for herd immunity."

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PTI reports that the association's reaction came after Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday said that the country is "in the end game of the COVID-19 pandemic" and Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the coronavirus is nearing an "endemic" phase in the national capital.

The association elaborated that the vaccine can be used as a weapon against the challenging war that people all over the country are facing now. IMA further stated, "It is painful to note the discussion on endemic vs pandemic status of diseases is echoing in the political corridors, however it ought to be substantiated by scientific evidence by the World Health Organisation or ICMR only.

An infection is said to be endemic in a population when it is constantly maintained at a baseline level in a geographic area without external inputs.

It is incorrect to say at this stage that it is the end of the pandemic or it is endemic, the doctors' body said. "Let us not boast or trumpet ourselves and indulge in prognosticating the course of this viral disease and off guard our preventive measures against this dreaded disease of this stage," it added.

"But for India and Argentina, the whole world had faced the second wave and its much vitreous consequences. The invasion of muted virus UK variant, South Africa variant and Brazil variant are still haunting us. The last one week has shown 35 to 40% increase in the number of cases from different parts of the state and even in capital India the daily average has risen up from 100 to 140 patients", IMA further added in its release.

While reasserting the importance of maintaining precautions measures like upkeeping physical distance, hand and respiratory, hygiene, masking and the timely supportive vaccination drive, the association further stated, "IMA feels as the world countries are still reeling under the clutches of this disease, we need to deem it as pandemic only at this stage and work hard from all cylinders of preventive, curative and rehabilitative works."

"True days are not far for us to celebrate, but let us be guarded at this moment", it added.