With the threat of new Covid-19 variant BA.2.86, Pirola, spreading in countries such as the US and UK, a survey has found that one in two Delhi NCR households have one or more family members with flu-like symptoms.
The survey by LocalCircles shows in the second week of August, 21% households had someone down with viral or Covid symptoms, which has jumped to 50% in the second week of September.
When asked how many in the household in Delhi NCR have one or more Covid/ flu/ viral fever symptoms like fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, joint pain, body ache, respiratory issues? Around 9,389 respondents with 50% indicating that one to three individuals in their house were unwell. Data shows while 50% of respondents indicated that “no one, thankfully” was unwell in their household; 33% indicated that one individual in the family was unwell while 17% said two to three individuals had flu/ Covid symptoms.
The same survey was conducted in August in which 21% residents of Delhi-NCR had indicated that one or more individuals were down with Covid.
While some doctors on LocalCircles have also indicated possibilities such as swine flu and RSV being reported in addition to viral fever and Covid, the fact is that these illnesses are on the rise.
It is advisable that people in Delhi NCR use masks and maintain social distance, at least in front of those who are unwell and could be a source of viral transmission for others. With Covid variants such as Pirola rising world over, the government should also consider making available free RT-PCR testing to people as well as doing more genome testing.
The survey received over 9,000 responses from citizens located in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad. 61% respondents were men while 39% respondents were women.
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