📢 DATA is critical to drive policy and communication initiatives. KA is one of the few states putting out demographic data of deceased. Data can be used to fight popular anecdotal myths.
📢 @MoHFW_INDIA PLEASE direct ALL states to release details deceased data.
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All of us have been hearing about persons testing positive after taking the vaccine, sometimes after both the shots. We are in the middle of a ravaging 2nd wave where the chances of getting infected has risen exponentially. The vaccine drive has unfortunately coincided with it.
This has meant that the proportion of vaccinated testing positive will also increase due to rise in vaccination numbers and prevalence of infection.
In times like this, hard data that shows drop in share of elderly deaths is key to reinforce confidence in vaccines. Vaccines work!
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Isolating in a home/hostel with no separate room or bathroom:
📌 Most recommendations on isolation assume that a separate room/bathroom is available. This is not always the case - many live in shared spaces.
In this thread we look at ways to isolate in a shared room.
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✅ Separate bedroom: If a separate bedroom is available, isolate the Covid +ve person there. Other residents have to temporarily use other rooms in the house, even if it means sleeping in the living/dining rooms. As much as possible do not share bedrooms.
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✅ No separate bathrooms: If the bathroom has to be shared with a Covid +ve person, here are some tips to minimize risk:
📌 Have an order for using the bathroom: Let the Covid +ve person use the bathroom last, after others.
📌 Sanitize bathroom after each use.
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As per data released on 6th May, states had 1.18Cr doses of the vaccine available.
Taking the avg. peak daily vaccination rate of 36L doses/day, that translates to doses sufficient for just 3 to 4 days.
At the current avg. rate of 17L/day - it would suffice for a week.
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✅ As can be seen, the distribution between states is skewed as well. Of the 1.18Cr doses, UP alone has 11.44L doses, followed by MH with 9.98L.
✅ Let's take the eg. of KA which is recorded to have 5L doses. At 2L doses/day, this would suffice for 3 days.
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✅ KL had one of the highest utilisation of doses + 0 wastage. The state saw an avg. peak of 1.6L doses/day. With a balance of 3L doses, that translates to doses for 2 days.
The question is not whether vaccines are available. It is whether sufficient numbers are available.
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Vaccines and persons who have had Covid19 - Few pertinent clarifications:
✅ Should a Covid survivor wait for a specific timeframe after recovery, to take the vaccine?
There is no specific guideline in India on this. As a matter of abundant caution, we recommend...
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....taking the vaccine shot atleast 30 days after diagnosis or 15 days after recovery.
While Covid survivors will have an element of natural immunity, we strongly urge them to take the vaccine for more targeted immunity.
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✅ If a person tests positive AFTER the first dose and BEFORE the second dose, can the 2nd vaccine dose be taken?
Yes, the 2nd dose can be taken. Wait till you recover. US CDC recommends the 2nd dose to be taken after the person has recovered from Covid19.
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While we hear and see distressing news on the extreme crunch of medical resources, here is a SILVER LINING:
📣 The vast majority of those who get infected will recover through treatment at home.
Here is a short thread to help you navigate home treatment 👇
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📌 When should I get tested?
(a) Within 2 to 3 days of having Covid19 symptoms. Test slots and reports are getting delayed across cities now, so plan in advance. Do not hesitate.
(b) Came in contact with a Covid19 +ve person: Test 5 days after last contact.
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📌 Not getting a slot for RT-PCR tests and I have symptoms. What should I do?
Consult a doctor. Do not delay getting treatment due to delay in test results. Doctors can advise medication based on symptoms, additional blood tests, medical condition etc.
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The effect of election campaigns in spike of Covid19 cases is best shown in the case of Kerala.
After a prolonged spike, cases were decreasing over Feb and early March 2021 in KL. TPR had dropped to around 4%.
Then, tests inexplicably dropped in the last 2 weeks of March.
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The case trajectory started to take a swift turn immediately after April 6th, the date of voting.
✅ Testing started to move up and with it, so did daily cases. Testing > 1L now.
✅ From a 7 day avg. TPR of 5.9% on April 6, 7 day TPR has spiked to 17% as of yesterday.
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✅ Active cases that were just short of 30k on April 6th, has now shot 6 times to 1.18L as of yesterday.
📣 The decreasing trajectory of cases in KL through Feb 2021 and subsequent increase immediately following the election campaign, directly points to the role played....
On reporting Covid19 deaths - The reported, differently reported and unreported:
Over the past weeks, we've seen multiple reports on differing number of Covid19 deaths.
While we continue to report the official numbers, here are some observations we've made along the way 👇
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📌 Delay in reporting deaths: Skimming through detailed data on deaths released by limited number of states, shows that the reporting of deaths is delayed by days or even weeks. Eg. here is the KA bulletin of 19/04. Take a look at the date of death column.
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📌 Deaths due to non-Covid reasons: Are all deaths of Covid19 +ve persons counted as a Covid19 death? Not in all cases. Few states periodically report deaths due to non-Covid reasons. This is usually determined by a committee that evaluates the cause of death.
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