Covid-19

Abstract

Context: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic causing millions of deaths and causing a devastating blow to the global economy. Like all other countries and territories, the Ernakulam district (Kerala, India) is affected by COVID-19. When the number of COVID-19 cases reported in the other states started coming down, the Ernakulam district continued to record a large number of cases. Aims: To analyse the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the district of Ernakulam, Kerala. Material and Methods: The authors were part of the COVID-19 surveillance unit of Ernakulam district, and hence, had access to the data collected. The available data were analysed in the following phases of the pandemic: First phase: From the reporting of the first case in Kerala in January to the reporting of the first case in the Ernakulam district. Second phase: Cases reported mostly in those with a travel history and their contacts to the period of community spread. Third phase: From the start of community spread. Results and Discussion: As of July 5, 2021, the Ernakulam district reported 3,60,345 cases of the COVID-19 infection with 1,317 deaths and the recovery rate being 96.45%. Despite factors like high human development index (HDI), access to the Internet and social media, access to affordable healthcare, etc., factors like high population density, airports, seaports, railway stations, container terminals, IT parks, major highways, tourist spots, beaches, large shopping malls, large floating population, a huge number of migrant labourers, a large proportion of the elderly population, high prevalence of non-communicable diseases, etc., are the some of the major challenges. The preparedness of the fight against COVID-19 included the training of all healthcare workers, ward level rapid response teams (RRT), upgradation of health facilities, district-level patient management system, provisions to manage biomedical waste, etc., The containment zone strategy is currently based on the local self-government area-wise weekly test positivity rate (TPR). The cluster containment is focused on the early identification of clusters. Currently, the Ernakulam district reports one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases in India. This is mainly because of the high number of tests (five to six times to national average) and targeted testing strategy. This is scientifically proven by the very low case fatality rate (0.35%), low-bed occupancy rate of the COVID treatment facilities and the latest seroprevalence study by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). Conclusions: So far, the Ernakulam district could excel in its efforts to fight against COVID-19. But even now, when we are moving forward with the immunisation of the healthcare workers, front-line workers, elderly population, our main strategies to prevent COVID-19 remain the same—proper social distancing, hand hygiene, use of masks, avoiding ...

Fungal Profile in Non-Invasive Fungal Sinusitis Using PCR in Post-Covid Scenario at a Tertiary-Care Centre in India

“…Initial cases were reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019 [ 15 ]. In India, the first case was reported in Kerala on January 30, 2020 [ 16 ]. The health infrastructure in India was hard-pressed during the pandemic which undoubtedly affected both the patients and the healthcare providers alike [ 17 ].…”

Analysis of daily COVID-19 death bulletin data during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India

“…The overall approach to COVID-19 control in Kerala has been published earlier. [ 7 ] Soon after the first case in Kerala, the district established a control room under the District Medical Officer (DMO), the senior-most health official at the district level. Around ten teams were formulated for various purposes, of which one was assigned COVID-19 death reporting.…”