A Comparison Between the First and Second Wave of Covid In India & What Can We Do to Prevent Infection?

The coronavirus pandemic started in 2020 and the spread was unexpected. The virus was spreading at a faster pace. Researchers and experts were concerned about the effects of the virus on the health of the people. Another question was – would the different waves of the virus spread at a different pace like the pattern observed in other viruses during the pandemics that occurred in the past?

If we talk about India, the very first case of the virus was reported on 30 January 2020. And the current situation is dealing with the second wave. Many people are speculating that the second wave is more dangerous than the first one. But is it true? We will find out as we proceed.^(1,3)

During the pandemic, certain guidelines were released in the public domain to make people aware of the seriousness of the situation. Washing hands, using sanitizer, wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing were the precautions that needed to be followed in order to drop the number of cases and spread of the covid-19 (coronavirus).

At the beginning of 2020, these precautions were being followed by common people but as the pandemic life became the new normal life, eventually, the seriousness dropped. Then the lockdown forced everyone to stay at home so the chain could break and the number of cases could decrease. But new cases were still increasing after all the precautions. On the other hand, the world was waiting for the vaccine to come, so things can get back to normal. As time passed, people started taking things for granted. People who survived after catching the virus, knew how dangerous the virus was, while many people who remained unaffected felt that the situation was not that serious yet.^(1,3)

At the beginning of the year 2021, slowly public places were allowed to reopen and resume the services. Malls, shops, clubs, schools, sports clubs, gyms etc. were allowed to open with restrictions. Proper sanitization and wearing masks was made mandatory. Cab and taxi services such as Ola, uber etc. resumed and the drivers were instructed to follow the guidelines and ensure the safety of the public.

It was already told by the government that things would get back to normal eventually but everyone had to follow the rules and regulations. As the public places opened, unnecessary travels, visits, and gatherings started to take place. Soon, the number of cases increased. It was observed that people aren’t following rules due to which the spread is extremely quick this year. People were and are walking freely without understanding the seriousness of the situation; no mask, no social distancing. And due to this casual behaviour, the number of cases started to rise. These increasing cases had put pressure on the healthcare system which had made the situation worse. So, therefore again certain restrictions were needed. And due to the increasing number of cases, the government has to enforce curfew to restrict unwanted gatherings, meet and slow down the second wave. As we all know prevention is always better than cure.^(1,2,3)

To understand this, we need to understand a few concepts, what the waves of a virus are and how they spread, activate and end.

There isn’t a clear definition of what an epidemic wave (phase) is? A phase or wave generally means an elevating number of diseased individuals along with a certain defined peak, and later a decline. Waves imply to changes in the spread along with its rate of transmission as well as the number of deaths.^(2,3,4)

The new strain of coronavirus is believed to be spread more easily as the transmission rate is high. One of the reasons for this is definitely avoiding the precautions. And another one is the new strain; it is believed that this strain is 70 times more contagious than the previous strain of 2020.

Let’s find out the answers one by one. Well! Viruses tend to go under mutation over time. This variant might disappear with time. A single virus can have multiple strains. And no, we can’t really prevent them from having variants. But precautions taken at the right time can prevent the spread and unexpected deaths.

India is currently facing covid-19 second wave hit and this second wave is believed to last for 2-3 months, while there are so many countries already going through the fourth phase. ^(2,3,4)

Well! The answer is already known by everyone. Yet, a reminder is always better than negligence:

• Wear a mask whenever you are in contact with others. Encourage others to wear a mask too.
• Avoid touching nose, eyes or facial areas after coming in contact with others or if you are by chance out somewhere.
• Wear gloves to avoid direct touch with people or objects.
• Wash your hands properly after touching surfaces or people around you.
• Do not eat outside as safety is important. The food you order from outside might be contaminated.
• Drink plenty of water as hydration is really important for the body.
• Eat a balanced diet. Vitamins, minerals, protein, fibre and other important nutrients are important to keep you fit and healthy.
• Take vitamin C, B, D calcium to uplift the immunity.
• Exercise daily to keep the body as well as mind healthy and stable.
• Include turmeric in your diet.
• Drink lukewarm water to prevent sore throat.
• Avoid drinking cold beverages, it might cause a sore throat and make you more susceptible to fall sick.
• Drink immunity booster drinks.
• Meditate to keep the mind calm and body healthy.
• Use sanitizer when you are out or travelling.
• Maintain social distancing – minimum of 6 feet.
• Avoid unwanted gatherings to avoid direct contact with people.
• Avoid public transports. If it isn’t urgent, don’t rush outside.
• Avoid unwanted stress, it affects the immune system
• Avoid sleepless nights; it might affect your mental and physical health.^(1,3)

These are certain measures every individual must take to contribute to better change.

This change will not only help you but it will keep others safe around you. Each one of us is responsible for small changes. So, if we follow rules and make others around us, do the same; things and situation will eventually change.

References:

Also Read:

• What Gets Rid Of Coronavirus?
• Should You Be Worried About Coronavirus (COVID-19, 2019-nCoV)?
• How Common is Coronavirus (Covid-19)?
• How to Prevent Getting Coronavirus?
• What Does Social Distancing During Coronavirus Outbreak Mean?
• Benefits of Washing Hands With Soap in Preventing Coronavirus
• Can You Get Coronavirus Twice?