ICMR Sees the Curve Flattening

ICMR says that India’s curve of infected people is flattening as new cases are growing linearly and not exponentially. It also said that plasma therapy treatment has begun across India. However, it cannot predict the peak of the virus. Given India’s recovery rate, fatality rate, and measures being taken, is India in a better position? Complete Coverage: Coronavirus

Crux of the Matter

COVID Curve Flattened? India has more than 23,000 positive COVID-19 cases and 700+ deaths as of 24th April 2020. ICMR Director said that India has flattened the curve of infections as cases have been growing more or less linearly and not exponentially. However, it is difficult to predict the date of its peak, said ICMR head.

The stigmatisation of coronavirus patients is discouraging people from coming forward for testing at an early stage and a delay in treatment may lead to higher mortality. Randeep Guleria, AIIMS Director

India has also increased testing. As on April 22, it had conducted more than 5 lakh tests as compared to 14,915 tests as on March 23 – nearly 33 times in 30 days. The doubling rate of cases in India also slowed to 10 days as compared to 3 or 4 days when India entered lockdown. Also, no cases have been reported in the last 28 days in 12 districts (as on 23 April) and no cases in the last 14 days in 78 districts (as on 23 April).

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Curiopedia

1. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research, and is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world. Initially, it was known as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) during its formation in 1911, which was changed to ICMR in 1949.

2. In a paper published in 2007 by CDC (Centre for disease control and prevention) called “Interim pre-pandemic planning guidance: community strategy for pandemic influenza mitigation in the United States” the first instance of “Flatten the Curve” can be found. Also, the famous graph of the same is also adopted from the same paper.

3. Current ICMR Director-General Dr. Balram Bhargava is a 2014 Padma Shri awardee for his contributions to the field of medicine (cardiology). He is also one of the laureates of the 2015 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences.

Curated Coverage

1. Financial Express – India has been able to flatten the curve, but difficult to predict COVID-19 peak, says Govt

2. Livemint – Coronavirus growth curve has been flattened, difficult to predict peak says ICMR

3. India Today – Covid-19 outbreak: Centre says India set to flatten the curve even as cases cross 21,000-mark

4. Times of India – Rate at which coronavirus cases doubling in India slows to 7.5 days: Health Ministry

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