THIS IS AN USEFUL ANALYSIS FOR ANY ONE WHO IS HANDLING THE SITUATION IN THE GOVERNMENT. PLEASE PASS IT ON TO ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS WHO IS IN THE THICK OF IT. IT WILL ENABLE THEM PLAN BETTER
FIFTH REVIEW: https://palepurshankar.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-corona-combat-fifth-review-thinking.html
FOURTH REVIEW: https://palepurshankar.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-corona-combat-fourth-review-on-to.html
SECOND REVIEW: https://palepurshankar.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-corona-combat-second-review-by-lt.html
FIRST REVIEW: https://palepurshankar.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-corona-combat-review-of-situation.html
PHASE 2: BREAK
OUT STAGE
The question is who will break out? The disease or us? It is
a delicate stage of the battle. The Virus can attack us from all sides outside
our lock down fortress. We are exposing ourselves and our vulnerability in this
graded exit. Is our vulnerability strong enough to withstand the attack? That
is the test.
There is loose talk of Post COVID Scenarios. That could be three years
away or more. We are here and now. Let us talk of that and not look at distant
unseen horizons.
ENEMY
The Virus is new and we do not know enough of it. There are
not enough cases. Data from China is suspect. USA which used to lead the world out
of trouble is itself in the dock. The Virus is not behaving like its other
avatars. Not responding to known medicines. At present we do not even know if
we are infected or past that. Not enough testing facilities. We do not even
know whether we can develop immunity. If so for how long? Reinfections belay
immunity.
The new danger is asymptomatic infections and the danger of
being undetected. As per reports 60-80% cases are asymptomatic, not reported.
These cannot be detected due to paucity of testing facility. The medical
fraternity is in a gallant stupendous fight for all of us. However they are not
armed with medicines to treat us. They are flying blind.
What we know is that the enemy is vulnerable to soap, hygiene,
social distancing, heat, and humidity. It could be vulnerable against the BCG
vaccine and Indian Genes. It is not highly effective against healthy people
especially the youth while being deadly against the old and the infirm. We must
fight this Chinese evil with the weapons and knowledge we have. We must fight
this the military way.
In the Burma Campaign, the British Indian Army was rolled
back to the Kohima - Imphal line by the Japanese. It was stricken with malaria
and suffering low morale. Dysentery, Chills, Fever and Malnutrition were rampant.
Fd Marshal slim imposed strict anti-malarial precautions. Suppressive quinine
treatment, sundown sleeves down, apply anti mosquito repellants, use mosquito
nets, drain stagnant water, spray
or wash clothing, bedding, and bed netting (but NOT your skin) with permethrin
et al. Soon malaria cases reduced, morale improved and then came Defeat into
Victory. The basic tenet was discipline.
Everyone had to follow precautions otherwise you simply fell sick and unfit for
battle. I commanded my brigade in CI operations in the malaria prone jungles of
the North East. We were all on full iron clad anti malaria precautions. Not for
self alone but for our comrades also. The best subunits and units were those
which were disciplined enough not to have malaria cases. Consequently they did
well in operations too. Similarly look at the Indian Army in Siachen Glacier. It
is well known that in Siachen environmental casualties were higher than from
enemy action. The Indian Army adopted a strict disciplinarian approach to
behavior on the Glacier and casualties fell.
The short point is that in the absence of medical remedies,
fall back to rigid behavioral discipline. That is the only way we will win this
war. Every Indian must be made aware that he is both the Weapon and the
Victim. Either he fights with discipline or all of perish. When he fights for
himself, he is fighting for all others also. That consciousness must set in.
OWN FORCES
The Current Status
The current status of cases is as under.
There is a clear increase in numbers. Every day cases are
growing by about 1000-1400. The welcome news is that appreciable recoveries
have also started to "flatten the curve"
The Top Order. The Top Order was looked afresh from the
number of active cases rather than the total number of cases. Substantial
recoveries have taken place. We need to deal with the current situation than a statistical
picture. Immediately the dimension of the problem changes. The graphics gives a
realistic picture. Maharashtra and Delhi have been joined by Gujrat and Rajasthan.
All in Five days. Reason to tighten our belt. Gujrat is worrisome.
Middle Order. UP and MP continue in this range.
TN has dropped down from the Top Order and seems to be in control.
Lower Middle Order. Andhra and Telangana
continue here but J&K has come into the picture. Worrisome.
Tailenders. Happily, there are many tailenders. Even more happily Kerala has dropped significantly.
While the increase in numbers is not alarming, the cause of
worry is that more districts are coming into the picture. The table indicates
the number of districts in case pockets for some states along with hot spots.
From 05 April to now there is an increase in the number of districts with
higher number of cases.
Case Discovery and Mortality. The prevalence
of the disease in India continues to be far less than other countries. This is
based on data from 05 April. While everyone talks of inadequacy in testing, the
number of cases which are popping up for the tests carried out is extremely low.
The lock down has been effective. It must be seen if this scenario changes when
restrictions ease. So far so good.
Overall Situation
The situation is in control even if it is enlarging.
Heartland India is where the battle will be won or lost. The
South, East and North are generally stable and under control.
The problem remains an urban one. The countryside is still
unaffected.
The number of deaths taking place for the cases we have on
hand indicates the following
The mortality / casuality rate is
low in India.
Our
Hospitals and health care personnel are doing a good job.
The disease might not be that lethal
in India.
'DEFEAT INTO
VICTORY' APPROACH
The only way to defeat the Chinese Virus is with the ‘Defeat
into Victory’ Approach. While norms like social distancing, private and public
behavioral hygiene are clear, we need to have some level of analytical
approach.
Population and Case Spread Analysis
A population analysis how to control the disease is needed.
Our population of 1.3 billion is 35% urban and 65% rural (see Graph below).
From the earlier table we also saw that the Virus is an Urban Phenomenon. The
hotspots are mostly urban.
The spread of cases in districts approximately is as under:-
50+ cases – 65 -70 districts
25-50 cases – 80-100 districts
0-25 cases - 200-225 districts.
Nil cases – 325 districts (approx. as per GOI)
Deduction. It stares at us. Protect the
districts.
Approach. A three-pronged approach is required.
1.Contain hotspots and districts with
more than 50 cases through lock downs, sealing, red zoning etc,
2. Eradicate the
disease from districts less than 50 cases. With onset of summer and strict
measures it can be killed.
3. Do not let the Virus enter Corona free districts at
any cost.
Each district must have a different
strategy suited to it.
Population and Disease Co- relationship
Age and Mortality. The table below is data of 6839
deaths in New York city [1].
If there are no underlying conditions, the death rates are drastically low. The
immediate conclusion is that we need to protect or shield the high-risk people
from this disease. High Risk people are all above 70 and those with underlying
conditions like Diabetes, Lung Disease, Cancer,
Immunodeficiency, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Asthma, Kidney Disease, and
GI/Liver Disease. These people should be put under lockdown / isolation /
extreme care / zoned out. The concept of
‘Expose the youth and Protect the High Risk’ is to be based on this data. Commence the concept of "Social Barricading" high risk people.
Infection and Hospitalization. A relationship
between infection and hospitalization is that of all
detected infections, approximately, 80.9%, are mild, 13.8% are severe and 4.7 %
are critical. Infections which do not need hospitalization (moderate/mild/asymptomatic
infections) are 95.6%. Infections that lead to hospitalization, but not
critical care are 3.08%. Infections that require critical care are 1.32%. Experience
also indicates that a “20-something has
about a 1% chance of illness so severe it requires hospitalization, and that risk
rises to more than 8% for people in their 50s and to nearly 19% for people over
80”[2]. This
data enables planning for medical infrastructure in an area and
population.
Risk Assessment. All this data is nice. How does one use it at practically at various
levels? We need to have an idea of the magnitude of the problem at each level
from the grass root Tehsil/ward level to the highest level in the GOI. We start
the population distribution graph and table below.
.
The population distribution must be co related with the details
of underlying diseases to get a fair idea of how many people are high risk in an
age group. As per India’s health statistics the prevalence of underlying
diseases is Obesity – 155 million, Diabetes – 50 million, Hypertensive – 12.5%
(in 15-49 age group, Cancer- 175 million, Heart diseases – 50 million[3].
This data must be dis-aggregated to various age groups from relevant information
available in authorized repositories of such information. An educated guess can
be taken based on common sense and life experience. My educated guess is as
under
SERIAL
|
AGE GP
|
PERCENTAGE
|
CUMULATIVE
|
NO OF PERSONS IN AN AGE GROUP HAVING LIFESTYLE / UNDERLYING DISEASES (this needs endorsement/amendment by appropriate authority)
|
1
|
0-9
|
17.2
|
17.2
|
5%
|
2
|
10-19
|
18.5
|
35.7
|
5%
|
3
|
20 -29
|
17.4
|
53.1
|
10%
|
4
|
30-39
|
15.6
|
68.7
|
15%
|
5
|
40- 49
|
12.1
|
80.8
|
25%
|
6
|
50-59
|
9.2
|
90
|
50%
|
7
|
60-69
|
6.9
|
96.9
|
60%
|
8
|
70-79
|
2.8
|
99.7
|
80%
|
9
|
80+
|
0.3
|
100
|
80%
|
The next step is to appropriate this distribution to various groups and divide them into high risk and low risk groups.
SERIAL
|
AGE GP
|
PERCENTAGE
(a)
|
CUMULATIVE
|
NO OF PERSONS IN AN
AGE GROUP HAVING LIFESTYLE / UNDERLYING DISEASES
(b)
|
LOW RISK GROUP (%)
(a– (a x b))
|
HIGH RISK GROUP. ALL
ABOVE 60 ARE IN HIGH RISK GROUP. (%)
(a)
X (b)
|
1
|
0-9
|
17.2
|
17.2
|
5%
|
16.34
|
0.86
|
2
|
10-19
|
18.5
|
35.7
|
5%
|
17.58
|
0.92
|
3
|
20 -29
|
17.4
|
53.1
|
10%
|
15.66
|
1.74
|
4
|
30-39
|
15.6
|
68.7
|
15%
|
13.26
|
2.34
|
5
|
40- 49
|
12.1
|
80.8
|
25%
|
9.1
|
3.0
|
6
|
50-59
|
9.2
|
90
|
50%
|
4.6
|
4.6
|
7
|
60-69
|
6.9
|
96.9
|
60%
|
-
|
6.9
|
8
|
70-79
|
2.8
|
99.7
|
80%
|
-
|
2.8
|
9
|
80+
|
0.3
|
100
|
80%
|
-
|
0.3
|
After this the data can be converted to any population
group. For a basic brick of 10000, the distribution is as given in the table
below
SERIAL
|
AGE
GP
|
PERCENTAGE
(a)
|
CUMULATIVE
|
NO
OF PERSONS IN AN AGE GROUP HAVING LIFESTYLE / UNDERLYING DISEASES
(b)
|
Low risk group (%) (a) – (a x b)
|
High
risk group. All above 60 are in high risk group. (%)
(a)
X (b)
|
Low
risk people in 10000
|
High
risk people in 10000
|
1
|
0-9
|
17.2
|
17.2
|
5%
|
16.34
|
0.86
|
1634
|
86
|
2
|
10-19
|
18.5
|
35.7
|
5%
|
17.58
|
0.92
|
1757.5
|
92.5
|
3
|
20
-29
|
17.4
|
53.1
|
10%
|
15.66
|
1.74
|
1566
|
174
|
4
|
30-39
|
15.6
|
68.7
|
15%
|
13.26
|
2.34
|
1326
|
234
|
5
|
40-
49
|
12.1
|
80.8
|
25%
|
9.1
|
3.0
|
917.5
|
302.5
|
6
|
50-59
|
9.2
|
90
|
50%
|
4.6
|
4.6
|
460
|
460
|
7
|
60-69
|
6.9
|
96.9
|
60%
|
-
|
6.9
|
-
|
690
|
8
|
70-79
|
2.8
|
99.7
|
80%
|
-
|
2.8
|
-
|
280
|
9
|
80+
|
0.3
|
100
|
80%
|
-
|
0.3
|
-
|
30
|
TOTAL
|
7654
|
2346
|
We now know that in each age group how many high-risk
individuals are there in a brick of 10000 in various age brackets. They can be
dealt with or protected as per local situation. The flaw in this data is the
assignment of lifestyle diseases to each age group. This must be assigned based
on better statistical data available. Once that is done this matrix will be
very solid aid. A District Magistrate armed with this data can get basic
medical tests done at tehsil / gram panchayat level and then he will be able to
handle each village of his district easily. A secretary at state/ national
level can get the macro data for his planning. There is need to know whom to
segregate and how, if needed. This is a planning tool. This model can be used at
any level for many purposes.
If all low risk healthy individuals are infected in a group
of 10000, the casualties will be around 50 -75 people if the percentages of casualties
from New York are taken as a guide. However if all high-risk individuals are
exposed and get infected then we should expect about 90 % of them will die.
Hence protection of the High-Risk People is a mandatory part of any plan. From
this table one can plan for their protection as per local conditions. This must
be enforced with some logic and sense and some amount of discipline in the
society. It can not be enforced at the PMs office, but from grass root levels
on a widespread participative basis. This is a matrix
which can also be used for herd immunization eventually.
Medicine and Vaccination
Everyone is looking forward to medication and vaccination as
the solution to the Virus. While
medication is ok, we must think through the vaccination business: -
It is Big
Numbers and Big Money. There are already issues of ethics propping up.
Can a vaccination be given to an
infected person? The disease might get complicated. An infected person with
vaccine is double infection.
How long will the immunity last? There
is no clarity on natural immunity. When will the clarity on vaccinated immunity
come?
Given the number of asymptomatic
cases coming up, how does one know whether it is safe to take a vaccine. Hence
each vaccine might have to be preceded by a test. It only complicates the
issue.
What are the side effects of each
vaccine? Incidentally, all vaccines have side effects.
Will we Indians accept Chinese
vaccines given the substandard nature/ quality of even medical equipment being
supplied by them all over. That might be a bio war channel. I will not accept it.
It is a matter of trust or lack of it.
By the time all these issues are
resolved, the infection might have spread to all people and herd immunity might
have been achieved. Hence is the vaccine necessary at all?
The Virus could have mutated making
the vaccine redundant.
If after the first phase, the Virus
is seen not to be as lethal in India as it is proving and can be managed with a
curative medication, should we go in for a Vaccine at all?
All these issues are being raised because vaccines are
forlorn hopes for now. We must fight this Virus like Malaria; with what we
have- The Defeat into Victory Way. when the right vaccine comes along we can use it.
Herd Immunity
While natural herd immunity is fine conceptually and can be
the goal, there are issues with it as under: -
The number of cases is far too less
to attempt herd immunity at national level at this stage.
When the total number
of cases are just less than 20000, we can not think of exposing 1.5 billion to
it. Insane. However we must be cognizant of a substantial number of asymptomatic and unreported cases in the environment which can force our hand.
It is not clear if persons who are
infected once are immune to this Virus. As of now it is all an educated guess. In
the absence of clarity on that issue, attempting any kind of herd immunity is
out of the equation.
Targeted / controlled herd immunity
must be attempted as a pilot project along with establishing immunity
parameters and population control measures.
Once results from the pilot project
are clear, we can go in for Herd Immunity in a targeted, controlled, and phased
manner. Herd immunity also means letting people get infected deliberately and
being prepared for the consequences. In such situations Herd immunity progress must
match the medical capability of the nation and region. The haul is clearly
long.
Principles of Operation
While the key lines of operation must be continued with as
mentioned in earlier reviews, we need to veer towards certain underlying principles
to handle the situation in the long term. These are as under.
Contain Urban Areas and Firewall Rural Areas. The
three-pronged approach as outlined earlier must be taken to contain and
restrict the Virus in Urban areas. We should be prepared to go through cycles
of suppressive lockdowns, lifting, containment and sealing actions. We should
now put in place a movement monitoring and restriction plan so that affected
areas do not contaminate clear areas.
Protect the Aged / High Risk/Infirm and Expose the
Youth. Exposing the youth is not
an issue. However we must be prepared to handle it medically. The
infrastructure to handle the disease even if it is mild must be put in place.
The major issue is that the aged need to be protected. Social Barricading of high-risk
people must be a norm for the next 2-3 years. There is no choice. We are now
talking of separate transport systems, enclosures, shopping facilities, and
almost everything. A parallel way of living must evolve.
Reduce Transmissibility. Reduction of transmissibility
will be a major challenge in India. The crowds are self- defeating. Unless a
sense of self discipline is built in, we will all lose. Individual measures of transmissibility
reduction save the self and others also. This consciousness must be built in
through strategic communication. Public measures of reducing transmissibility must
be thought through, re-engineered and implemented. Workplaces must be re- imagined on a 24x7 basis. If our economy must
revive, there is no other choice but to reduce crowds and movement in public
places so that we can work and educate ourselves. Immigration into India must
be very stringent. Travel and work places have to be seriously focused upon.
Strengthen the Testing Capacity. We need to
expand our testing network. We must go indigenous. It is hoped that the effort
of Sri Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences comes good[4].
Unless testing is made widespread, affordable, and accessible, our fight
against this Virus will be hampered. Testing helps us to put in place
monitoring systems. Surveillance and monitoring go hand in hand.
Prepare for Controlled Herd Immunity. Ultimately,
we must go in for Herd Immunity. However we need to prepare for it based on
research and study. We also need to have
extensive testing capability to trace and map the extent of the spread of the virus
if we attempt controlled herd immunity. It will be a very long process at the
cost of repetition.
CONCLUSION
In a
metaphoric sense we have been thrust into this battle unarmed. We have reached
this Frontier Sans Medicines. We have to
defeat this with what we have – “The will , determination and oneness of the
Indian people as a whole”. If we do the simple things right, we will succeed. We
have done that so far. These could be some hiccups. That is what life is all
about. There is no reason to believe that we will not succeed in future. We must
put our shoulder together and say 'altogether heave' and do it the Gunner Way as
you can see in this photograph below. It is of a 25 Pounder Gun with its vehicle being dragged up slope in SeLa Seector in 1962 by our determined Gunners - All Together Heaving!.
Another piece from the author which provides a ready made comprehensive, updated, all encompassing and easily discernible set of data regarding the state of the virus spread and its impact as on date and a clear set of well reasoned measures to be adopted as we proceed with our fight against the virus. It’s an excellent tool for Government officials, medical authorities and planners to use for deployment of resources in the fight( as mentioned by the author, wherever a need is felt, suitable modifications can be made to the input data appropriate to specific areas). Haven’t seen a better analysis and hope it gets used. Congratulations
ReplyDeleteAn excellent and comprehensive writeup. Hope someone in the Govt.takes notice of it.
ReplyDeleteDear Shankar,
ReplyDeletewhile your analytical papers are long & time consuming, I still love to read each word & try to understand each graph! Kudos yet again! Well done keep it up! I still remember, this disciplined approach was followed up in all our fd messes in 1963 & thereafter. An anti malaria tablet plate was lying in the entrance or bar counter! It was an auto must!
I will fwd this wonderful article of yours directly to the Hon PM, RM, HM, & our min of health for their pers indulgences & actions to supplement the excellent measures already taken!
I remain, v proud of you as a true Ferocious Fiver who is so full of knowledge, zeal, gusto, & total dedication to humanity! Hope I have your unconditional permission to share your very original ideologies & remedial measures!
Another brilliant piece ...thought provoking without being preachy....
ReplyDeleteGood one. Both analytical and practical.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant as always
ReplyDeleteA lucid, comprehensive and pragmatic write up.
ReplyDeleteExhaustive and we'll articulated.
ReplyDeleteLot of understanding and knowledge has been put together by the author. Hope it reaches the right ears.
ReplyDeleteLot of data is given. Emphasis on self control and discipline. It has to reach every common man and should explained to them.
ReplyDeleteNice analysis Shankar. But keep them short.
ReplyDeleteSuperb analysis of the problem. You should be seen in TV discussions too on some sensible channels.
ReplyDeleteA fabulous analysis. So detailed that it cant be better.
ReplyDeleteA near comprehensive analysis of present situation, well illustrated with brilliantly collated & presented data. I wish the Hon'ble Minister for Health and his staff go thru' this & earlier reviews and realign their effort/ thrust-line in accordance, if required.
ReplyDeleteHats off to this huge effort at understanding (and enabling us to understand) this 'enemy' from all angles.
Enlightening read. Thanks
ReplyDeleteEnlightening read. Thanks
ReplyDeleteEnlightening read. Thanks
ReplyDelete1. Economy has to be brought back to normality (as far is practically possible) soon.
ReplyDelete2. COVID-19 is not going to go away for two years.
3. Herd-Immunity is not the solution for India, as millions may die.
4. Strict 'Self-Discipline' measures without exception(s) have to be enforced for next two years.
5. Lock-downs in Mohallas, Tehsils and Districts to be continued, if number of Corona cases exceed practical and determined benchmark numbers only.
6. Let us live without fearing this epimedic. Contracting it can be avoided to a great extent. Cure will come next year. Treatment facilities in India have got geared up.
7. Let us also mentally prepare for better response(s) to the next such epidemic striking humanity. Virological research and finding cures programmes in health sector have to be better funded.
8. Unorganised Sector and Self-employed people have to be identified in each Corporation/ Municipality Ward and rural area Panchayats, and issued Annually Renewable Social Security Cards. They have to be provided Two Months Monetary Sustenance for their families, in case there is a repeat of 'lock-down' in the future. Corpus for this safety net has to be generated in each State.
9. Unnecessary diagnostics and medical expenses in Private Sector hospitals have to be cut down, by bringing them under Regulatory control and Monthly Inspections at the District level by an Autonomous Body headed by a retired Judge.
10. Disease Prevention, Community Hygiene & Sanitation, Overall Cleanliness and Basic Housing have to be well funded programmes with easy credit and subsidised interest schemes.
thank you for your detailed comment. enlightening.
DeleteShanks as usual the contents and analysis of the entire situation is comprehensive and enlightening. The parallel situation of glacier scenario and malaria during the WW is so very logical. Government bodies should make a note of it and ensure implementation in a similar manner ensuring smooth handling of the situation.
ReplyDeleteAmazing content! Thanks for sharing this valuable content with us, after reading your blog I got answers of questions. I would like to share something important with you regarding Ayurvedic medicine for kidney stone. I hope this will help you as an inspiration in your upcoming blogs.
ReplyDelete