Community Transmission Of Covid-19 Has Started In India, Situation Is Bad: Indian Medical Association

The statement by IMA holds significance as till now the Union Health Ministry has been maintaining that community transmission of Coronavirus has not started yet in the country.

(Image: PTI)

New Delhi: With India registering over 34,000 fresh cases of novel Coronavirus and total tally inching close to 11 lakhs, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday said that the community transmission of Covid-19 in India has started and the situation looks bad. While speaking to news agency ANI, Dr V K Monga, the Chairman of IMA Hospital Board of India said, “This is now an exponential growth. Every day the number of cases is increasing by more than around 30,000. This is really a bad situation for the country. There are so many factors connected with it but overall this is now spreading to rural areas. This is a bad sign. It now shows a community spread.” As per the Union Health Ministry, the total confirmed cases reached 10,38,716. There are 3,58,629 active cases and 6,53,751 cured/ discharged/ migrated. A total of 26,273 deaths have been registered across the country due to the contagion. The statement by IMA holds concerning significance as till now the Union Health Ministry has been maintaining that community transmission of Coronavirus has not started yet in the country. Government's claim is now being strongly challenged by independent health agencies of the country. Currently, India stands as the third in the list of countries across the globe with maximum cases of Covid-19 after the US and Brazil. Speaking further, Dr. Monga further said, “Cases are penetrating down into towns and villages where it will be very difficult to control the situation. In Delhi, we were able to contain it, but what about interior parts of the country in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Madhya Pradesh (which may be the new hotspots)?” “All these issues are very important and the state governments should take full care and seek help of the Central government to control the situation,” Monga said. As many as 1,34,33,742 samples have been tested for Covid-19 till July 17. Of these 3,61,024 samples were tested on Friday, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said. ICMR is ramping up testing facilities regularly. At present, 885 government laboratories and 368 private laboratory chains are conducting Covid-19 tests across the country. “This is a viral disease that spreads very fast. To contain the disease there are only two options. Firstly, 70 per cent population contracts the disease and gets immune, and other is getting an immunisation,” stated Monga. “There has to be phases of trials then human trial, then efficacy and side effects. Also, importantly it has to be seen how long this immunity will last because most of the patients are unable to go beyond three months of immunity,” said Dr Monga. IMA's claim came a day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday confirmed that community transmission has occurred in two coastal hamlets of Poonthura and Pulluvila in Thiruvananthapuram. Addressing updates on the Coronavirus condition in Kerala, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said, "Large number of cases in some places in coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram district is an indication of disease spread. We can say there is community spread in these places. Government is taking steps to coordinate all efforts to face this serious situation."