Age not only criterion to develop infection
Posted 27 Apr 2020 | Source: newindianexpress.com

Dr C N Manjunath, Director of Jayadeva Institute Of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research added, “Assuming that we would be free of the virus after relaxation or the lockdown being lifted completely, is wrong. It is a crucial stage for all age groups, up to at least eight weeks after the lockdown is lifted, and people should take all precautions as many can be carriers and others won’t even know.”

Dr Swati Rajagopal, Consultant-Infectious Disease & Travel Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, said, “Age is not the only criterion for developing the infection. Any individual with pre-existing health conditions or those with weaker immune systems, even if around 40 years of age, can develop infection. Data from across the world shows that there is a small percentage of individuals aged 40 years, with no underlying medical co-morbidity, who have succumbed to the infection. So, there appears to be an element of randomness in such cases.

Therefore, it is prudent that younger adults should not get complacent. Certainly, an element of caution needs to be exercised once the lockdown is relaxed.” Dr Bhujang Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Nethralaya, said, “The numbers are set to rise in the next three months. The idea of the lockdown is to delay the spread of the disease and to take all measures. We need to continue doing it even after relaxation of the lockdown, by taking all the measures.

Younger adults with co-morbidities may be at a greater risk and need to take care. The youngsters can work, but they need to take all precautions, while those aged above 60 need to be at home safe. This is called reverse quarantine.” Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Manipal Hospitals, said, “Just because one is young, they should not think that they can’t catch the disease. It doesn’t mean that they can just go out and they won’t get the disease as they are immune to it. They need to be extremely careful too.”