E-Paper
Lockdown not “useful” now, but might be inevitable of people don’t follow rules: advisor to state govt on Covid-19
PUNE Even as multiple districts in the state are under lockdowns, or some sort of a curfew, Dr Subhash Salunkhe, advisor to the Maharashtra government on Covid-19, said that while lockdowns would restrict transmission, it would not be useful for the economy
PUNE Even as multiple districts in the state are under lockdowns, or some sort of a curfew, Dr Subhash Salunkhe, advisor to the Maharashtra government on Covid-19, said that while lockdowns would restrict transmission, it would not be useful for the economy.
Pune has been reporting the highest number of cases in the state over the past few days, with 2,000 cases being reported in a 24-hour period.
An earlier study conducted by the National Centre for Cell Sciences, Pune (NCCS), BJ Government Medical College, and the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), found that transmission of the virus was restricted during the lockdown.
In the next two days, the state government is likely to take a review meeting to decide on local lockdowns, if need be.
However, Dr Salunkhe is of the view that there is no need for a lockdown at this stage.
He said, “Lockdown is not necessary as of now. While it does help in stopping transmission, it will prove counter-productive. If a lockdown is imposed then it would have to be parallel to the incubation period of the disease; so at least eight-10 days of lockdown would be needed. Those who are active right now have to stop the spread of the disease, so localised restrictions like micro-containment zones, contact tracing and testing is needed in these areas.”
Dr Salunkhe added, “The focus should be on the concerned areas instead of imposing a lockdown on the entire city. I will project this same view in the upcoming meeting too.”
A genomic study of samples of suspected Covid-19 patients were collected in April and May 2020 by the NCCS, BJ Medical and AFMC study.
The samples were then confirmed positive by a real-time PCR for Sars-Cov-2 by the three institutes. The study published states: “A distinct novel pattern of mutations in closely located different districts of the same state, perhaps due to a strict and effective lockdown. In Pune, a novel variant has overtaken other strains.
“Satara and Nashik also have unique mutations, but at a lower frequency. It would be interesting to study how these mutations affect viral fitness and virulence. Nonetheless, the lockdown resulted in an independent evolution of the Sars-Cov-2 viral variants.”
The sudden rise in the number of cases in the district is raising questions of a second wave in Pune.
Dr Salunkhe further added, “If cases keep rising this way and citizens continue to avoid Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, then the administration might be forced to impose a lockdown.”
A Covid review meeting is to be held on Friday, and will be attended by officials and public representatives, including MPs, MLAs and health experts.
