Hoarding, paranoia leading to problems in Covid 19 management

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Two days ago, a resident of a plush Gurgaon condominium purchased anti-viral medicine Fabiflu along with an oxygen cylinder despite being Covid 19 negative.</p>
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Reason? Fear and panic.</p>
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Large scale hoarding of oxygen cylinders and antibiotics required to treat patients affected by the deadly Covid 19 virus has aggravated problems for the medical fraternity and public at large. Unprecedented paranoia has built up with the widespread circulation of misinformation regarding the intensity of the new strain of virus and Coronavirus vaccines.</p>
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Dr Balram Bhargava, chief of Indian Council of Medical Research said earlier that India's Covid 19 second wave is less severe than the earlier one. Sample this. On Thursday, India reported over 3,32,518 fresh cases. The number of deaths stood at 2,257. Though in absolute numbers, it is India’s highest, in percentage terms the deaths were 0.67—less than 1 per cent of the total figure.</p>
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India’s total number is 1.62 crore. The death toll is at 1.86 lakh—which is about 1.14 per cent– lower than the global average.</p>
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But doctors are complaining that the problem has multiplied with non-availability of oxygen cylinders and essential anti-viral antibiotics due to increased hoarding.</p>
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In an interview earlier, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria said in an interview that many people, who do not need, have started keeping oxygen cylinders at home disturbing the healthcare infrastructure.</p>
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“People are suddenly panic-striken and have started storing medicines–this is not only with Remdesivir and Fabiflu but also with oxygen cylinders. This is creating more problems for the medical fraternity. People, who are in need are the sufferers while many those who do not require have them at homes,” a practicing doctor in Gurgaon said on condition of anonymity.</p>
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Though the absolute numbers have risen, in percentage terms, it is not overwhelming yet, the doctor pointed out. However, she said that it is imperative for citizens to adhere to Covid 19 related protocol.</p>
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Medical experts said that the surge in the number of cases is possibly due to a new mutant virus, which spreads faster than the earlier one.</p>
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The Centre, in a bid to intensify fight against the virus, opened up the vaccination drive for all citizens above the age of 18 from May 1.</p>
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The medical fraternity has also clarified that the vaccine cannot serve as a foolproof mechanism against contracting the virus but would surely bring down the severity of the impact. “Despite this, there is fear-mongering, misinformation leading to widespread hesitancy among the eligible people in taking the shots,” the doctor said.</p>