Big Covid19 dampener: New study says novel Coronavirus is airborne!

Bhubaneswar: Here is a big Covid-19 dampener. The novel coronavirus is airborne finds a new study.

According to a new study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists published in The New England Journal of Medicine says, "Results provide key information about the stability of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease, and suggests that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects.

Till date the notion has been that people can acquire nCoV, if they come in close contact with an affected person or objects contaminated by a Covid-19 positive.

And more scary scientific study results surfaced are: The virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is stable for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces.

What are aerosols? An aerosol is a suspension of small liquid droplets or solid particles in air. The aerosol material exists in the liquid or solid state and is carried by the air into the respiratory tract.

The study says, " The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel".

As per the report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the scientists have come to this conclusion after a mimic virus deposited from an infected person onto everyday surfaces in a household or hospital setting, such as through coughing or touching objects. The scientists then investigated how long the virus remained infectious on these surfaces.

The study has also listed the subtle differences regarding why the SARS-nCoV-2 is infecting more than SARS-CoV-1. Scientists says If the viability of the two coronaviruses is similar, why is SARS-CoV-2 resulting in more cases?

Their observations are:

*Emerging evidence suggests that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 might be spreading virus without recognizing, or prior to recognizing, symptoms. This would make disease control measures that were effective against SARS-CoV-1 less effective against its successor.

*In contrast to SARS-CoV-1, most secondary cases of virus transmission of SARS-CoV-2 appear to be occurring in community settings rather than healthcare settings.  However, healthcare settings are also vulnerable to the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2, and the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols and on surfaces likely contributes to transmission of the virus in healthcare settings.

Indian Scenario: As per the latest bulletin, the total active Covid19 cases (means hospitalised cases) in the country stood at 130. However, the total cases reported stood at 147, which includes 14 cured/discharged and 3 mortalities.

The break-up data shows Indians with nCoV totalled to 122, and the foreigners count stood at 25.

Also reads: COVID19 infects Maharashtra in a big way, Odisha faces a huge threat!

The moot point is what's the evolving Covid-19 scenario in India. An analysis of the data reveals more significant inferences.

Consider this. The Covid-19 mortality rate in India at present stood at 2 per cent, and recovery rate stood at around 10 per cent.

An analysis gives big hints. India reported first case on Jan 30, till the 4th of March, the country has recorded mere 6 cases. But the first big spike of Covid-19 cases happened on March 4, when on a day the country reported 23 new cases. However, it takes 6 -long days to touch the 50-mark on March 10.

The scenario took a disconcerting turn since March 15. And the new cases every stands testimony to it. 14 new cases on March 15, 11 on March 16, 19 new cases on March 17 and 12 new cases on March 18 till morning 9 AM. Look at the graph below.

Another big analytical inference:  The last case showing recovery from Covid-19 in the country has been on March 7. During March 8-18, no new recovery case of Covid-19 has been noticed.

The big sigh of relief: Since January 30, none of the Covid-19 patient has been under intensive care. Intensive care patients means patients developing serious complications affecting vital organs.

The above inferences show Covid-19 cases are on the ascent in the country since last week, so has it entered into the level of community transmission?

However, only yesterday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has denied of nCoV acquiring community transmission in India. The apex research body said son on the basis of nearly 500 samples (of 1,020) with Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) conditions reporting negative nCoV.

However, the results of another set of over 500 sample will be declared today. Today's results may put a stamp of approval that Covid-19 hasn't acquired community transmission level in the country.

Odisha Scenario: 32 tests done. 1 positive tested and given treatment in isolation ward. But not under intensive care. 53 quarantined and under observation. Though none has yet shown flu/pneumonia like symptoms, 12 samples sent for test.

History of Covid-19 shows, the chances of acquiring the disease is high if one has any close contact with a viral shedding Covid-19 positive case. So, time will tell the future Covid scenario in Odisha!

Also Read: Odisha Covid19 Update: No flu-like symptoms yet in 53 Contacts of Covid19 positive!