Avoid Travelling Abroad, Wear Masks In Public Places: Top Medical Body Issues Advisory Amid Global Covid Surge

The IMA said the situation was not alarming in India and there was no need to panic. On Thursday, India recorded 185 fresh Covid cases.

People without wearing face mask crowd at Sarojni Nagar Market in New Delhi ( Image Source :PTI )

Amid a spike in coronavirus cases in parts of the world, especially China, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Thursday advised people to  to follow Covid appropriate behaviour with immediate effect. The medical body asked people to avoid international travel and wear masks in all public places.

In a statement, the IMA said the situation was not alarming in India and there was no need to panic. "Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, all are advised to take following necessary steps to overcome the impending Covid outbreak," the IMA said.

Covid-19 Advisory Issued By IMA

1. Face masks are to be used in all public places.
2. Social distancing is to be maintained.
3. Regular hand washing with soap and water or sanitizers.
4. Public gatherings like marriages, political or social meetings etc. to be avoided.
5. Avoid international travel.
6. Consult the doctor in case of any symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough, loose motions etc.
7. Get your Covid vaccination, including precautionary dose at the earliest.
8. Follow the government advisory issued from time to time.

The Indian Medical Association also asked the government to ramp up preparedness for any such situation as seen in 2021 during the deadly Covid second wave by issuing necessary instructions to the concerned Ministries and Departments to make available "emergency
medicines, oxygen supply and ambulance services".

The medical body, however, said India was equipped to manage any eventualities as it had robust infrastructure in public as well as in private sector, dedicated medical manpower and availability of sufficient medicines and vaccines.

The fresh concerns regarding Covid comes amid an explosion of cases in China following the recent easing of strict lockdown measures. Hospitals and medical facilities in China have been overwhelmed with patients.

The IMA, quoting reports, said nearly 5.37 lakh new Covid cases were reported in the last 24 hours from major countries like China, USA, Japan, South Korea, France and Brazil.

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India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases, with average daily infections falling to 158 in the week ending December 19. On Thursday, India recorded 185 fresh Covid cases and one death. The number of active cases came down to 3,402.

Four cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7, the strain behind China's current surge of Covid cases, have been detected in India -- two in Gujarat and two in Odisha. In Gujarat, both the patients, who had foreign travel history, have recovered, PTI reported.

The new Omicron subvariant BF.7 is known to spread very fast and has a shorter incubation period.