Now we have misplaced 6,525,394 folks to Covid-19 outbreak thus far. The virus has lasted longer than any virus we all know in our residing occasions. And this was most likely the primary time that medical doctors didn’t say ‘it is only a virus’. The horrible COVID waves, the mutations, the elevated virality, it has been consistently evolving to invade and assault our immune methods. The vaccine has helped curb the manic results of the virus on our our bodies, however medical doctors nonetheless fear in regards to the results it has left behind.

Whereas we nonetheless do hear of COVID circumstances, they’re changing into as widespread as dengue or typhoid circumstances proper now. And when WHO stated that “the tip of COVID Pandemic is in sight’, it made plenty of us marvel if it’s time to lastly put our paranoia and worries relating to catching a extreme and extremely infectious COVID pressure behind us? Let’s hear it straight from the medical doctors

Dr Ankur Phatarpekar, Director Cathlab and Interventional Heart specialist, Symbiosis Hospital, Mumbai
“As a heart specialist, I’m seeing very much less circumstances of COVID-19 in my OPD, and really much less COVID-induced issues of the guts. In final 6 months I’ve virtually not come throughout any affected person who has suffered any coronary heart assaults or coronary heart illness issues resulting from COVID. So, sure, as WHO instructed, the pandemic is at an finish stage. Nonetheless, all of us nonetheless ought to comply with some security protocols to maintain us at bay from any additional viruses.”

Dr Behram Pardiwala, Director Inside Medicines, Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central


“The COVID pandemic has now turn out to be endemic with the consequence that there’s neighborhood unfold, and attainment of herd immunity to a sure diploma. My opinion is that just like the annual influenza shot, we might want to take an annual vaccination in opposition to COVID. We’ll nonetheless have to take satisfactory precautions particularly in crowded areas and crowded locations to stop unfold. One additionally should be vigilant about mutations and new strains evolving and that’s the reason the vaccine additionally should evolve. In the direction of this finish additionally it is essential that the widespread public themselves are conscious of the implications of dangers of their habits.”

Dr. Vineet Arora, Director – Inside Medication, Max Tremendous Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh
“SARS COV2 virus has a pure tendency to vary itself and adapt to the host atmosphere which permits its speedy unfold. Now we have seen the emergence of COVID strains from alpha, beta, Gamma, delta to omicron and in addition the subvariants. Every has various levels of virulence transmissibility and immune escape potential with each successor being fitter than its predecessor by way of disease-causing potential. Taking a look at this pattern, it turns into laborious to persuade oneself of the tip of this pandemic and in addition sounds little untimely, although the prevailing strains are proving to be weaker strains by way of mortality and morbidity.”

Learn extra: Signs of the latest COVID variant

Dr Dipu TS, Affiliate Professor, Division of Infectious Illnesses, Amrita Hospital, Kochi
“From the earlier pandemics, our understanding is that by 2 to three years the pandemic will seize to be a serious problem. We are able to see the identical in our day by day lives, we’re virtually again to the pre pandemic occasions with opening up of colleges and eating places and public locations. In majority of the international locations, now the restrictions are title sake. Although new CoVID case numbers are nonetheless giving us the trace that it’s removed from over, with the newer variants, however nonetheless the actual fact is that it’s no extra a quickly spreading illness which sweeps throughout the nations. The idea is that essentially the most infectious variant that’s the omicron variant has already been there and now the circulating variants are much less more likely to produce a extra infectious variant to glide throughout the globe. The hybrid immunity the plenty have, resulting from vaccination and prior an infection additionally provides to the start of the tip. Therefore WHO rightly stated that the tip is at sight.”

Dr. Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, Guide Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medication, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad
“COVID 19 pandemic has been fairly devastating worldwide with a fatality of virtually 6.5 million folks globally. Nonetheless, lately we’re seeing a lower within the variety of energetic COVID 19 infections worldwide. These numbers might not replicate a real incidence as there was a basic pattern of lower in energetic screening of sufferers for COVID 19 an infection particularly within the present state of affairs of elevated respiratory infections secondary to flu. As well as the speedy kits used for fast testing will not be the gold normal diagnostic modality and should miss few energetic infections.

Notably in India, although the energetic COVID 19 circumstances are on decline, we’re seeing random spurts of COVID 19 an infection in isolation or with seasonal flu and in sure excessive threat sufferers it’s related to vital morbidity and mortality.

Now we have seen the emergence of mutant strains prior to now as effectively with delta and omicron variant being essentially the most generally concerned. Although we want we do not see, reemergence of additional mutant variants, it appears a sensible chance in future as effectively with prior knowledge . As with all pandemics, the virus continues to persist and it’s simply that the present mutation variants will not be related to severe types of an infection in comparatively wholesome inhabitants.

With the acceptance of social pandemic norms and energetic screening of COVID 19 infections in sufferers with higher respiratory tract infections on the decline, there’s a vital chance that we might even see additional mutants in close to future. As seen with influenza pandemic, vaccination, utilization of masks and avoidance of social gathering amongst sufferers with excessive threat components like underlying diabetes, power kidney or coronary heart illnesses and people with low underlying immune standing can mitigate the severity. Early reporting and energetic screening of sufferers with respiratory signs ought to proceed to persist as this will assist figuring out the spurt early and may guarantee correct well timed mitigation measures.”