AIMS chief Randeep Guleria says corona isn’t that serious

All India Institute of Medical Sciences chief Randeep Guleria on Thursday said the social stigma around Covid-19 could lead to mortality in India.

Guleria, who is a part of the center gathering of Experts, said the sickness “isn’t so serious” yet it has been demonized. “The patients who have been restored are our symbols of hope and triumph. However, we have vilified them. This is making many people frenzy that it can cause increment in morbidities and mortalities,” Guleria said.

While interacting at a press conference in New Delhi, Dr. Guleria shared that by and large primary treatment for the infection is supportive in more than 80 per cent of patients, oxygen therapy in 15 per cent of patients, including other methods such as convalescent plasma.

Many patients who have flu-like symptoms are reporting late and not getting themselves tested, Guleria said. According to him, patients come forward only when “they are gasping for breath” and this could seriously increase the mortality in India.

“We have to remember it is a disease which is not that serious. Around 90-95% of the people recover. 80% have mild infection and 5% will require ventilators. Speaking on the havoc wrecked by the disease, he says people with flu like symptoms have stigma attached with the disease and have not been coming forward to check up, which in turn has resulted in increased morbidities.