Variant is mild but mask must: Expert on Covid spike

Amid the recent spike in Covid cases across the country, Dr Arvind Kumar, chairman of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Medanta Hospital has advised people to wear masks and get a Covid test done in case of symptoms. Notably, Covid cases are increasing across the country, including in the national capital, so experts are warning people and advising them to wear masks. Talking to ANI, Dr Arvind said, “Now because the testing has increased, there is an increase in the cases as well. But the good thing here is that the cases which are coming up are not more serious cases which can be detected. They are recovering by staying at home”. He said that during the second wave of Covid, there was a lack of oxygen in the country and the patients who were coming were in need of oxygen. “But now the situation is not like this. This viral and new variant is not affecting our lungs much. Although the problem of dry cough is being seen in patients for a long time, the patients who are coming are not in need of oxygen. However, there can be a danger regarding this variant for a patient suffering from a serious illness. They need to be more careful,” he said. However, Dr Arvind said that those already suffering from lung disease need to be very careful with this new variant and viral. “It is necessary for them to at least come out of the house, do not go to crowded places, and if very necessary, leave the house only after wearing a mask,” he said. He added, “XBB.1.16, right now this variant is mild. The patients suffering from it are not becoming more serious. They have very little need to go to the hospital. Most of the patients are getting cured by staying at home. But there is absolutely no need to be careless about it. Because nothing can be said when this virus will take a serious form. Along with this, there is also a good thing that at present about 95 per cent of people have hybrid immunity”. At the same time, Dr Arvind Kumar strongly advised people to use masks.