People treating Covid like flu, ignoring timely treatment: GMC dean

At the advent of Covid-19 last year, all it took was a slight cough for a person to rush to the doctor to rule out the disease. Fast forward to March 2021, you find people have begun treating Covid-19 like the common cold leading to late diagnosis and a missed opportunity of getting cured.

Since Goa started witnessing a rise in infections this month, the mortality count has increased, and on most days, two Covid-related deaths are reported. The two deaths a day for a daily average of over 100 cases is not to be taken lightly, said Dr S M Bandekar, dean of Goa Medical College (GMC).

“Rising mortalities is a cause for concern because people’s attitude has changed towards Covid-19. People stay at home for the first five to six days suffering from breathlessness. While last year people came running to the hospital even if they had a mild fever. They think Covid-19 is a common flu and they will be cured without getting medical help. This is a dangerous behavioural pattern,” said Bandekar.

Probably, people have been emboldened since the recovery rate has been high. Goa’s Covid-19 recovery rate has been in the range of 96-97% for the past few months.

“People think nothing will happen, even if they contract Covid-19,” Bandekar, who is also the head of the Covid hospitals in the state, said.

Over the past few days, some of the people who died of Covid were in the age group of 30 to 50 years. In most cases, the victim did not have any comorbidities. Besides reporting late for treatment, some were brought dead to the hospital, or a few hours before they succumbed. Such cases were reported both at South Goa district hospital and GMC.

“When a patient’s history is examined, and relatives questioned, they deny that the patient had any symptoms of the virus,” he said.

On Sunday, a 30-year-old woman from Saligao died after contracting the virus. The only comorbidity she suffered from was anaemia, an easy comorbidity that could have been treated. Earlier this week, a 35-year-old man from Chinchinim was declared brought dead to Hospicio, Margao.