Jagannath Gupta Institute Of Medical Sciences And Hospital Highlights Effective Variants Of COVID-19
As the third wave of COVID-19 sets in, people are once again anxious about how to deal with the new variant, Omicron. Considering the obvious concern and inquisition among the populace, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital (JIMSH) organized a virtual press conference on “COVID-19 THIRD WAVE & OMICRON” in the esteemed presence of Dr. Kaushik Hazra, MD Assistant Professor, General Medicine, JIMSH; Dr. Kaushik Roy, Assistant Professor, Dept. of General Medicine, JIMSH; Dr. Biswaroop Mukherjee, Associate Professor, Dept. of General Medicine, JIMSH; Dr. Sanchita Saha, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Critical Care, JIMSH; Dr Sunetra Roy Hazra, Consultant Pediatrician, JIMSH along with Mr. KK Gupta, Vice Chairman, JIMSH. The objective of this press meet was to address the queries regarding the virus and provide definite information on how mass infection can be prevented.
As per study, the Omicron variant of coronavirus can remain alive on skin for over 21 hours, and more than eight days on plastic surfaces, which may be contributing to its faster spread compared to other strains, according to a study. The researchers from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan analyzed the differences in viral environmental stability between the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and all variants of concern. The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted recently on the preprint repository BioRxiv, found that the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants exhibited more than two-fold longer survival on plastic and skin surfaces, than the Wuhan strain.
Addressing the Media Dr. Kaushik Hazra, MD Assistant Professor, General Medicine & Dr. Biswaroop Mukherjee, Associate Professor, Dept. of General Medicine JIMSH said, “Since cases of ongoing coronavirus third wave in West Bengal is in the peak we can expect that this may last till February. Although the R-value has dipped considering the last two months, the peak in cases is inevitable and WHO has already categorized Omicron as a variant of concern which is highly infectious, mounting evidence suggests that it is less likely to severely infect the lungs that is why it is crucial to take precautions beforehand with sufficient beds and oxygen requirements at the hospital.”
Dr. Sanchita Saha, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Critical Care, JIMSH & Dr. Kaushik Roy, Assistant Professor, Dept. of General Medicine added, “There is a common misconception that we often encounter is that vaccinated people will not be infected again or for the first time with the virus, which is not entirely accurate. Vaccine breakthrough infections are expected. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing most infections. However, like other vaccines, they are not 100% effective. A fully vaccinated person may develop symptoms but is less likely to fall severely ill than that of a partially vaccinated or unvaccinated person. That is why it is essential to get fully vaccinated so that the chances of hospitalization can be reduced. As, it is tentative that the peak may rise between the second and third week of February.”
Speaking to the Media on child COVID Dr. Sunetra Roy Hazra, Consultant Paediatrician, JIMSH said, “Though the mortality rate and severity of COVID infection in children is low than that of the adult, it had been seen that even the neonates, young children and the adolescent; every age group can get affected by COVID. In spite of the low severity rate children experience high grade fever, lack of appetite, low energy. Moreover, there is another entity called MIS-C which is mainly a post COVID complication that can be seen in adolescents. She encouraged everyone to abide by the COVID protocol. We advise the parents to take their children for the vaccination as it is a weapon to fight against the virus.”
Addressing the Media Mr. KK Gupta, Vice Chairman, JIMSH said, “At first I would like to thank the entire medical team of JIMSH for being a great support and giving their enormous effort to provide emergency services during this Covid-19 pandemic. Since the ratio of affected people is highly increasing, we have planned to take a precautionary action with an advanced infrastructure and well organized medical team to give faster services than before. So we have increased the numbers of bed numbers with oxygen set up, special COVID HDU Bed & COVID ICU Bed. So around 50 beds are available at JIMSH with emergency oxygen supply, medical equipment like ventilators, BIPAP, specific medications to have a control over COVID related infection, round the clock team of doctors and other medical staffs’ availability.”
