Battle against COVID-19: Trials and errors

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate and cause mild illness, like the common cold.The coronavirus outbreak came to light on December 31, 2019 when China informed the World Health Organisation of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause in Wuhan City in Hubei Province. On Jan 9, 2020 WHO reported that the disease is caused by a novel type of coronavirus. Subsequently the disease spread to more Provinces in China, and to the rest of the world.

The World health Organization declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern on 30thJanuary 2020 and later declared it as a Pandemic on 11thMarch 2020.The world community has sincemustered great strength and leadership to tackle this disease. India detected its first case COVID-19 on Jan 30, 2020 and has since worked tirelessly to contain the disease through active contact tracing, testing, and screening of international passengers.

The Karnataka state government has been especially proactive by strict screening of international passengers at airports. Passengers on arrival were screened into 3 categories. Category A was passengers symptomatic on arrival, these passengers were immediately tested. Category B were passengers asymptomatic by high risk with co-morbidities, these patients were quarantined in facilities and tested on discharge. Category C were asymptomatic patients who were not high risk these patients were home quarantined and periodically checked for symptoms and tested when symptomatic. The State through this system was able to contain the spread at the time of scarce resources with only 2 testing centres with ability for testing for COVID-19. On 9 March, Employee of Dell, who travelled from Texas, USA on 28 February via New York City and Dubai, before arriving at Bengaluru on 1 March, was found to be positive for coronavirus. His wife and daughter along with one of his colleagues are admitted to a hospital. This was the first case to be detected in Karnataka.Immediately contact tracing and containment of contacts was conducted by the state health authorities. This rapid action by authorities was pivotal in keeping the spread of the disease under control in our state.

As a member of COVID-19 BBMP Task force, I was given the honour of giving my service in these trying times. BBMP has shown its exemplary governance in putting together a group of experts to lead the district and by example the state. Extensive contact tracing, testing and hospital assessment for preparedness was done on the advice of this task force during the nationwide lockdown to better prepare the district for the pandemic.

It was because of this meticulous planning and relentless work by all those involved the city was able to contain the disease compared to other metropolitan cities. A spike in cases seen were not due to inadequate contact tracing but due to irresponsible congregation of people despite the restrictive measures placed into action by law.

Nevertheless, despite having a motivated workforce who is working tirelessly, a cooperative society is another pre-requisite much needed to better contain this pandemic.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Dean and Director, BMCRI for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to thank BBMP Commissioner for his leadership in these trying times by creating the BBMP COVID -19 taskforce and the state of the art COVID-19 War room to better handle the condition. Their actions give me hope for a COVID free future.