A Serious Public Health Concern for India due to Newly Discovered Virus (COVID-19): Early Detection of all Possible Cases is the Only Way to Combat
Background: It is well known that India is having a massive population (around 130 crores) after China. So, it's more likely to be similar or more positive cases of corona among Indians. However, we are following the ways of social distancing and all possible ways to weaken the corona outbreak. But, India needs a good monitoring and surveillance system to tackle this problem otherwise it may become a serious public health problem. Objectives: This study has done to understand the severity of corona in India and its states and to device a tool based on symptoms suggested by the World Health Organization on the corona. Methods: We have utilized data extracted through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI from 30th Jan to 26th March 2020. We have estimated the case fatality rate and cured rate to understand the severity of the newly discovered virus (COVID-19). Results: Out of 694 confirmed corona cases, 47 were foreigners and 647 Indians. Our study found that the case fatality rate due to COVID-19 was 23.1 per 1000 persons in India while the people who were still hospitalized under isolation wards were about 91 percent. The cure rate was estimated at around 64.8 per 1000 persons. Conclusions: Looking at the recovery rate, we may think about the severity of corona among Indians. We can reduce the chances of rapidly increasing corona cases through good monitoring and surveillance system. It is recommended that Government should not only focus on testing the passengers arriving at the airport but also test as much as possible cases based on the symptoms of corona in all the districts so that an actual number of cases can be estimated.