No Community Transmission Of Coronavirus In India, Reasserts ICMR Amid Stage-3 Outbreak Fears
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reiterated that there is "no proof" whatsoever of community transmission of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.?
"Till date, 826 samples of people suffering from severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illnesses have been tested at the sites. No sample was found positive," ICMR Director General Dr. Balram Bhargava said.?
"The samples of patients admitted to hospitals are collected randomly by our officials. Here random suggests individuals admitted in hospitals with other diseases but showing some symptoms of respiratory problems. There is a designated criterion under which the samples are collected. Such samples were collected for over a week and tested negative," Dr. Lokesh, the PRO of ICMR said.?
"We continue to test people with a history of travel abroad and who all have come in contact with these people. Besides, community testing is on. There are also some people admitted to hospitals with neither travel history nor contact with those who have visited foreign lands. But they have certain symptoms. We have taken their samples too. Their results will be out soon," he added.?
On Thursday, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey also said that there was no finding of local transmission of the infection in India so far but didn't rule out the possibility, suggesting to adopt precautions."There are no findings of local transmission (of coronavirus) in India, but there is a possibility. The disease entered into India from those who came here from outside the country. So, we should be aware and alert," Choubey said.?
The reassurance by ICMR and the minister comes at a time when there is growing criticism from various corners that India is not testing enough people and are only focusing on those returned from abroad or have come into contact with Covid-19 positive patients.?
According to ICMR, the coronavirus outbreak in India is still in stage-II where disease transmission is limited to those with travel history to the affected countries and others in contact with the infected persons.?
However, it had warned that India has around a 30-day window to halt the beginning of community transmission which is followed by stage IV when the disease becomes an epidemic and has no clear endpoint.?Countries like China, Italy, Iran, Sapin are in stage VI of the Covid-19 outbreak.?
As on Thursday, the total number of Covid-19 cases in India stood at 167, including 25 foreigners. So far four people have died in the country due to the infection, one each in Delhi, Karnataka, Punjab, and Maharashtra.
