Abstarct
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, detected first in China in December
2019, is now rapidly spreading across the world. India responded by drawing up National
Containment Plan for COVID-19 that envisaged screening of people for COVID-19 for
early detection of infection, providing community, primary health care-centered management
for those with mild infection, tertiary care for those with severe infection, and
health education to the population to reduce person-to-person transmission of infection.
To minimize the spread of infection from other countries, all travelers were screened
and quarantined; in the third week of March, India imposed ban on all international
travel. To prevent person-to-person spread, congregation of people for commercial,
educational, entertainment, sports, religious, and other social activities was banned.
To minimize intracity, interstate, and urban rural spread, India imposed nationwide
lockdown on 25th March 2020. The lockdown flattened the epidemic curve and provided
needed time for the country to reorganize the health system, so that it can provide
needed care for the increasing number of COVID-19 patients at all levels of health
care. National guidelines for screening of people for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2
infection, quarantine, and home isolation and care of infected people were drawn up
and implemented. Health education on methods by which person-to-person transmission
of infection can be minimized has been provided using all media of communication.
Global comparison shows that currently India has low infection rates, low fatality
rates per 1,00,000, and high recovery rates. There are ongoing research studies to
document the course and outcome of COVID-19 in India. Clinical trials of potential
drugs for treatment of severe infections and vaccines for preventing infection in
the high-risk groups are underway. A COVID-19 disease surveillance program is underway
to track the infection rates and bring appropriate midcourse corrections in interventions.
In the coming months, the people and health system will not only have to evolve a
sustainable strategy to provide needed care for COVID-19 cases but also ensure that
all other health care programs are implemented and patients with other illnesses get
optimal care too.
Keywords
COVID-19 epidemic - health system response - health education - national guidelines
- home care - hospital-based care
