COVID-19 Pandemic: The Way Forward
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EDITORIAL COMMENTARY
COVID-19 Pandemic: The Way Forward Rakesh Lodha 1 & S. K. Kabra 1 Received: 15 May 2020 / Accepted: 15 May 2020 # Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation 2020
In less than 5 mo, more than 4 million confirmed cases and 300,000 deaths have been reported across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic [1]. This is much more severe than the pandemic influenza that hit the world in 2009. High case fatality is being reported in high risk groups even from countries known to have the best healthcare facilities. It has overwhelmed the healthcare systems and resulted in severe crisis for hospital beds, particularly intensive care facilities (ventilators). There has been a shortage of essential consumables such as personal protective equipment (PPE), predisposing healthcare personnel to developing COVID-19 [2]. In the absence of definitive treatment (pharmacotherapy) and vaccines, the most effective measure is to prevent infection, particularly in those at high risk of severe disease/ adverse outcome. As COVID-19 infection is spread by droplets, social distancing, practicing adequate hand hygiene, and wearing face mask/ respirator have been considered to be most effective measures [3]. To achieve better control, a large number of countries/ regions remained under lockdown for variable period; in addition, countries used different testing strategies for controlling the spread. Because of unprecedented case fatalities in certain groups including healthcare personnel (HCP) even in industrialised countries, there is a panic amongst general population as well as HCP. As this is a new infection without effective vaccine or pharmacotherapy, there is uncertainty about the course of the pandemic. World has not faced such a pandemic in the recent past, therefore, there are no ready to use tools to handle these emerging problems. A major positive highlight of the present crisis is proactive role played by the medical journals in helping clinicians/ scientists sharing experiences/ research/ perspectives/ opinions to help colleagues to gain confidence and manage their patients efficiently. Because of information
* S. K. Kabra [email protected] 1
Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
technology, we are learning from healthcare professionals across the world to help us plan most suitable methods to deal with these challenges. At the same time, there is some concern about the quality of evidence being published and used to guide management and policy. We are passing through an unprecedented crisis, but we need to move forward. First and foremost is to accept the fact that COVID-19 infection is quite unlike the other viral respiratory infections and in absence of effective drugs and vaccine, it is going to stay with us in the near future. However, we need to understand that more than 95% of patients recover (>80% without need for hospitalization, around 15% with supportive care in hospital). Intensive care may be required by approximately 5% of the cases (about 20–25% of those hospi
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