COVID clinical epidemiology : Indian Perspective

Abstract

A Novel strain of Coronaviruses caused a cluster of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan

in China by the end of 2019 which soon became a global pandemic by February 2020.

World Health Organization labelled the disease as COVID-19, which stands for Corona

Virus Disease-2019. More than a billion people have been tested positive with nearly 20

million dead due to COVID-19.1

COVID-19 has brought a sea of change in practice of medicine. The challenge of containing

rapid spread of the disease along with rationing of limited resources has proved to be

critical in the war against the virus. Among different fields in medicine, surgical specialities

have undergone a paradigm change in this pandemic. Starting from virtual consultations,

triaging and prioritising surgical cases, need for a COVID testing preoperatively, use of

PP and mask with filters to use of webinars and simulation as a tool to continue surgical

training.

It is important that surgeons understand the various risk associated with COVID-19

infection and change themselves to adapt to this unique challenge. Need of the hour

is to formulate guidelines and consensus statements to help surgeon to take informed

decisions and prepare to give best care to the patient