Covid-19 Awareness: How Important Is Contact Tracing In India

After reporting 11 lakh cases of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19, the need of contact tracing is one of the major prevention of the Novel Coronavirus.

Governments of various states and union territories are increasing their contact tracing capacity and testing numbers to prevent the spread of the virus.

If the Union Government would conduct more contact tracing for the Novel Coronavirus, a majority of the population would be tested and treated, curing a lot of people in India.

After the World Health Organization (WHO) warning of a second wave of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, contact tracing of the Novel Coronavirus suspect have become a major part of the medical infrastructure and prevention measure.

Medical health workers are being trained in several states, new recruitments are happening to conduct surveys and trace more people inflected of the Novel Coronavirus.

In a Nation, where population is 133 crores, it is difficult to know the COVID-19 status of every individual, hence these surveys and contact tracing would be a major help.

An American medical expert said, “Contact tracing is the best tool we have to manage this in an ongoing way and allow our economy to open up again.”

How contact tracing works?

Contact tracing is essentially detective work, experts said. It is used to break chains of transmission of the Novel Coronavirus to manage epidemics of this virus at an ongoing low level.

It would also help to prevent future waves or surges of cases, and to enable us to get back to work in a much safer way.

If we are able to trace the contacts infected of the virus, we could prevent the virus to be spread to the other person, following the other and could break the chain.

Once you know a person who may have a virus or have tested positive, you work immediately to first isolate that person so they do not spread it further.

However, despite a planned contact tracing tactics, it is difficult for healthcare facility of India to conduct contact tracing for all. Due to the limited medical staff, hospitals, doctors and equipments, proportion to the large number of population, contact tracing might work a bit slow.

By the time the contact infected of the virus, it is spread widely, as the transmission lethality of the Novel Coronavirus pandemic is 23 to 24 %.

Effective contact tracing does not require medical treatment always, if the person is positive with mild symptoms of the Novel Coronavirus, self isolation, following the COVID-19 guidelines would work.

Another major reason of the contact tracing is self awareness. If the person infected of the Novel Coronavirus knows about his COVID-19 status, he/she would prevent the spread at an individual basis.

After being traced, self isolation with the guidelines of the Novel Coronavirus is said to be a necessary step to be taken.

Majority of cases coming everyday are either with mild symptoms or asymptomatic, hence self isolation is possible.

In India the Novel Coronavirus has infected a large number of people in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The everyday spike in these regions of India are not only a matter of concern for respective governments, but also a serious issue related to the citizens.

Since, COVID-19 has no proven cure, medication or vaccine, one should keep their immunity strong, follow social distancing and wear masks.

Wearing face masks could reduce 80 % to 90 % chance of being infected or infecting others.

In addition, hand sanitizer and washing hands every 15 minutes is another helpful and easy way to prevent being infected by the virus.

Stay tuned for further details of the Novel Coronavirus.