3 days ago
No need to fear COVID-19, thanks to acquired immunity, says Soumya Swaminathan
There is no reason to fear COVID-19 due to the immunity people have acquired over the last few years, said Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization, and chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
According to the data from the Union Health Ministry as of May 31, India saw an increase of 685 active COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 3,395 since January. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Scope 2025, an international conference on endoscopy organised by GEM Hospital in Chennai, Dr. Swaminathan explained that the current surge is driven by subvariants of the Omicron strain. While the virus may have undergone some mutations, the overall strain remains the same.
India and other Southeast Asian countries have reported a similar trend in slight increase of COVID-19 cases. She said that the widespread use of vaccines, and in some cases, booster shots, has provided immunity. As a result, even if someone contracts the virus, symptoms will likely be mild, such as a two-day fever, cough, headache, and body aches.
Dr. Swaminathan also recommended wearing masks when experiencing symptoms like cough, cold, or fever to prevent transmission to others. She warned that high-risk individuals — such as seniors, and those with diabetes, hypertension, or cardiac and lung conditions — should remain cautious.
She urged everyone to continue following basic precautions, including wearing masks, washing hands thoroughly upon entering the home, and avoiding spitting in public.
