The Difference in the behaviour of viruses in China and the rest of the world.
Methods of control of pandemic cannot be the same for all the countries. Methods adopted by China were considering the nature of the infection, the behavior of citizens, overall health infrastructure, and similar factors. Most of the patients in China had or has symptoms, whereas, in India, most of the patients are asymptomatic.
It is incorrect to say that asymptomatic carriers do not spread infection (Bachhan family is an example). Tests are mostly conducted for symptomatic people and people in contact with the patient. Asymptomatic patients are ignored, and this causes problems.
The difference in methods of controlling spread in China and India.
India and China’s population is almost the same, but density is much higher in India as the geographical area of India is three times less. China is a developed country, so are the technological administration tools. India is still a developing country that is slowly and steadily implementing the usage of technology in administration.
India’s government has made great efforts to slow down the spread of the infection, whereas China could manage to cut off the chain of infection due to advanced technology of contact tracing that already existed in the administration system.
The lifestyle of citizens of both countries is different. Immunity level of Indians is much higher, resulting in a higher incubation period than the rest of the world. The identified incubation period of this virus is as high as 14 to 45 days, which means it takes 14 to 45 days for symptoms to appear in the infected person.
Higher immunity level increases the incubation period, resulting in increased asymptomatic carriers.
Thermal scanners for detection and mask for prevention were the tools that China could use effectively as significant infected people were and are symptomatic. The same method is not helpful for India, as most of the infected people are asymptomatic. Mask will always be an effective barrier to contain the spread.
Suggested methods to detect infected people.
The most effective method to identify an infected person is by using a finger pulse oximeter. Due to the long incubation period, symptoms do not appear soon in the infected person, and till the time symptoms appear, a person may start facing breathing problems. Covid-19 causes “silent hypoxia,” which is difficult to detect.
A person does not feel short of breath immediately after getting infected, but the oxygen level in blood starts reducing. Finger pulse oximeter helps detect the oxygen level in the blood quickly, and within a few seconds, this helps in the detection of asymptomatic carriers.
Currently, a weekly door to door survey is conducted through volunteers who collect responses to a set of questions related to symptoms. The same volunteers can carry an oximeter and bottle of sanitizer to conduct the initial test. A person can be easily tested with finger pulse oximeter after sanitizing his/her hand. Nucleic, swab, or serum tests can be conducted after identifying a person with a reduced oxygen level; this will save time and money spent on tests with negative results. Identify, isolate, and treatment is the only method to cut the chain. Speedy identification will lead to a sudden surge in the number of cases that may appear to be scary, but until we reach the peak, the curve of infection will not start to flatten.
The suggested solution for mass to prevent the spread of infection.
For economical and several other reasons, we are forced to lead a normal life during this abnormal situation, this is dangerous, and adequate preventive measures should be adopted to curtail the spread of the infection. Apart from using masks as barriers and other hygiene methods, a combination of activated ionized air and UV disinfectant seems to be a practical solution for the containment of infection. The ionization method is used for the manufacturing of filter fabrics for masks to improve filtering efficiency.
Circulated negative ion air can help to restrict the spread of the virus in closed public areas. Hospitals, public transports, malls, temples, schools, colleges, and factories can use this method to restrict the spread of viruses. Negative ions can bond with suspended particles, bacteria, viruses, droplets, etc, and force them to settle on the surface. UV disinfectant method can be used to get rid of the virus on the surface.
Negative ion air is not the “Covid-19 only” solution; it helps in improving the quality of breathable air, which results in higher productivity, better psychological health, reduction in allergies from dust, etc.
Age of technology
Circulation of negative ion air for containing the spread of viruses is not a new technology; it has been there for more than 100 years.
Image courtesy: https://www.pcf.org/