New Delhi: Niti Aayog's member health, Dr V K Paul, requested people not to venture out without a reason and wear masks at home also. In an interaction with media persons on Monday, Paul expressed, “Please wear a mask, do not go out unnecessarily. Stay with your family. Even within the family wear the mask.”
He also requested people not to invite anyone home. "Please don't invite anyone to your home. This is not the time to do so. Take all possible care within the home. Protect yourselves and your family members," Paul added.
Referring to studies, Joint Secretary Union Health Ministry, Luv Aggarwal in a media briefing of Health Ministry, said, “By not following physical distancing one infected person could infect 406 people in 30 days. Reducing physical exposure by 50 per cent, one person can only infect 15 people in 30 days. Reducing the physical exposure by 75 per cent, one infected person can only infect 2.5 people in 30 days.”
He also stated that people must understand the importance of following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in restricting the further spread of the infection. He also said that a mask coupled with physical distancing can lower the transmission risk.
“Both a COVID infected person and uninfected person not wearing a mask or maintaining physical distance have 90 per cent risk of virus transmission. There is a 30 percent risk of transmission when the infected person is not wearing a mask and the infected person is wearing a mask. There is a medium risk (five per cent) of transmission when an infected person is wearing the mask and uninfected is not wearing," Aggarwal said.
He added, “Transmission risk becomes low (1.5 per cent) when both the people are wearing the mask. There is negligible or lowest risk when both (infected and uninfected person) are wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance of six feet.”
Dr Paul on Monday also explained that women can take the COVID vaccine during their menstrual cycle. "Yes, women can and should take the vaccine during the menstrual cycle. There is no reason to postpone the vaccination," he Paul said.
APRIL, THE DEADLIEST MONTH
April so far is the deadliest month since the start of the pandemic and the last seven days alone managed for half of the deaths registered in the entire month. Despite lower testing in the weekend, Monday was the sixth day in a row when India’s count of new cases exceeded 3 lakh (3.2 lakh on Monday) and deaths jumped pass the 2,000 mark for the seventh consecutive day.
India's new coronavirus infections hit a record peak for a sixth day on Monday, as nations including Britain, Germany, the United States, Russia, Singapore and more promised to send urgent medical assistance to help battle the outbreak overwhelming its hospitals.
Even Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama declared to contribute to the PM-Cares Fund as a token of solidarity with India. In a statement, he said, "I have been following the continuing challenge that the Covid-19 pandemic has been posing across the world, including in India, with concern.”
"At this critical time, during this alarming Covid-19 surge, I have asked the Dalai Lama Trust to make a donation to the PM-CARES Fund as a token of our solidarity with fellow Indian brothers and sisters.” "May I take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for all the efforts that are being made to tackle this devastating pandemic, especially by those courageously working on the frontline. I pray that the pandemic threat will end soon," the Buddhist monk added
Meanwhile, India on Monday registered more than 3,00,000 daily Covid-19 cases for the sixth day in a row, reaching a new record peak.
Ten states—Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh—account for 74.5 per cent of the total Covid-19 recoveries in India. Daily infections, recorded in the past 24 hours, rose to 3,52,991, with overcrowded hospitals in multiple states reportedly turning away patients after running out of supplies of medical oxygen and oxygenated beds.