On 30 May 2020, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India

(GoI) announced the extension of the lockdown in containment zones upto 30 June

2020, and to reopen prohibited activities in a phased manner in areas outside
containment zones.

WHO Country Office for India support

WHO Country Office for India has been working closely with MoHFW on preparedness
and response measures for COVID-19, including surveillance and contact tracing,
laboratory diagnosis, risk communications and community engagement, hospital
preparedness, infection prevention and control, and implementation of containment
plan.

In a video-conference held on 15 April 2020, MoHFW and WHO deliberated on further

strengthening the partnership and additional measures that can be taken to step up the
response to COVID-19 in the country. In his address, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister
for Health & Family Welfare said, “WHO is an important partner in our fight against the
COVID-19. I really value guidance and contributions made by the WHO in containing
spread of COVID-19 across the country.”

“India is now  in a decisive phase of the response. As in the case of polio, in combating
COVID-19 too, surveillance is playing a central role.  Accordingly, at the request of  the
government, WHO has further stepped up the support
in strengthening ongoing surveillance and response at state, district and block levels;
cluster containment activities; strengthening real-time data collection activities; and
accelerated implementation of the national Integrated Health Information Platform. Our
entire field presence, including the National Public Health Surveillance Project, has
been fully re-purposed to support the government to overcome this challenge,” says Dr
Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India.
What is corona virus Corona viruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or
humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the
common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus
disease COVID-19. What is COVID-19 COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently
discovered corona virus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in
Wuhan, China, in December 2019. What are the symptoms of COVID-19 The most common symptoms of
COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal
congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.
Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people
(about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6
people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and
those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more
likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical
attention. How does COVID-19 spread People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The
disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are
spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces
around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then
touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a
person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than
1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick. Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted
through the air? Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted
through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air. See previous answer on “How
does COVID-19 spread?” Can CoVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms? The main way
the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of
catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with
COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is
therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does
not feel ill. Can I catch COVID-19 from the feces of someone with the disease? The risk of catching
COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person appears to be low. While initial investigations suggest the
virus may be present in feces in some cases, spread through this route is not a main feature of the
outbreak. The ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share new findings.
Because this is a risk, however, it is another reason to clean hands regularly, after using the bathroom
and before eating. What can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of disease Protection
measures for everyone Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the
national,state and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of
COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks. Authorities in China and some other countries have
succeeded in slowing or stopping their outbreaks. However, the situation is unpredictable so check
regularly for the latest news. You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID19 by
taking some simple precautions: • Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcoholbased
hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using
alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands. • Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet)
distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or
sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are
too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the
disease. • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up
viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the
virus can enter your body and can make you sick. • Make sure you, and the people around you, follow
good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue
when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus. By
following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and
COVID-19. • Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek
medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority. Why?
National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area.
Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility.
This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections. • Keep up to date on
the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible,
avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas. Protection measures for
persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading o Follow
the guidance outlined above (Protection measures for everyone) o Self-isolate by staying at home if you
begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache, low grade fever (37.3 C or above) and
slight runny nose, until you recover. If it is essential for you to have someone bring you supplies or to go
out, e.g. to buy food, then wear a mask to avoid infecting other people. Why? Avoiding contact with
others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help
protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses. o If you develop fever, cough and
difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other
serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers.
Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health
facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. How likely am I to
catch COVID-19? The risk depends on where you are - and more specifically, whether there is a COVID-
19 outbreak unfolding there. For most people in most locations the risk of catching COVID-19 is still low.
However, there are now places around the world (cities or areas) where the disease is spreading. For
people living in, or visiting, these areas the risk of catching COVID-19 is higher. Governments and health
authorities are taking vigorous action every time a new case of COVID-19 is identified. Be sure to comply
with any local restrictions on travel, movement or large gatherings. Cooperating with disease control
efforts will reduce your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. COVID-19 outbreaks can be contained
and transmission stopped, as has been shown in China and some other countries. Unfortunately, new
outbreaks can emerge rapidly. It’s important to be aware of the situation where you are or intend to go.
Should I worry about COVID-19? Illness due to COVID-19 infection is generally mild, especially for
children and young adults. However, it can cause serious illness: about 1 in every 5 people who catch it
need hospital care. It is therefore quite normal for people to worry about how the COVID-19 outbreak
will affect them and their loved ones. We can channel our concerns into actions to protect ourselves,
our loved ones and our communities. First and foremost among these actions is regular and thorough
hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene. Secondly, keep informed and follow the advice of the local
health authorities including any restrictions put in place on travel, movement and gatherings. Who is at
risk of developing severe illness While we are still learning about how COVID-2019 affects people, older
persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease,
lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others. Are
antibiotics effective in preventing or treating the COVID-19? No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses,
they only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work.
Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19. They should only be
used as directed by a physician to treat a bacterial infection. Are there any medicines or therapies that
can prevent or cure COVID-19 While some western, traditional or home remedies may provide comfort
and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, there is no evidence that current medicine can prevent or cure the
disease. We does not recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, as a
prevention or cure for COVID-19. However, there are several ongoing clinical trials that include both
western and traditional medicines. We will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical
findings are available. Is there a vaccine drug or treatment for COVID-19 Not yet. To date, there is no
vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected
should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. Most
patients recover thanks to supportive care. Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are
under investigation. They are being tested through clinical trials. The most effective ways to protect
yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the
bend of elbow or tissue, and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people who are
coughing or sneezing Is COVID-19 the same as SARS? No. The virus that causes COVID-19 and the one
that caused the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 are related to each
other genetically, but the diseases they cause are quite different. SARS was more deadly but much less
infectious than COVID-19. There have been no outbreaks of SARS anywhere in the world since 2003.
Should I wear mask to protect myself Only wear a mask if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms
(especially coughing) or looking after someone who may have COVID-19. Disposable face mask can only
be used once. If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill then you are wasting a mask. There is
a world-wide shortage of masks, so We urge people to use masks wisely. We advises rational use of
medical masks to avoid unnecessary wastage of precious resources and mis-use of masks The most
effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover
your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from
people who are coughing or sneezing. How to put on use take off and dispose of a mask? 1. Remember,
a mask should only be used by health workers, care takers, and individuals with respiratory symptoms,
such as fever and cough. 2. Before touching the mask, clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or
soap and water 3. Take the mask and inspect it for tears or holes. 4. Orient which side is the top side
(where the metal strip is). 5. Ensure the proper side of the mask faces outwards (the coloured side). 6.
Place the mask to your face. Pinch the metal strip or stiff edge of the mask so it moulds to the shape of
your nose. 7. Pull down the mask’s bottom so it covers your mouth and your chin. 8. After use, take off
the mask; remove the elastic loops from behind the ears while keeping the mask away from your face
and clothes, to avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces of the mask. 9. Discard the mask in a
closed bin immediately after use. 10. Perform hand hygiene after touching or discarding the mask – Use
alcohol-based hand rub or, if visibly soiled, wash your hands with soap and water. How long is the
incubation period for COVID-19? The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus
and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19
range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. These estimates will be updated as more data
become available. Can humans become infected with the COVID-19 from an animal source?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in animals. Occasionally, people get
infected with these viruses which may then spread to other people. For example, SARS-CoV was
associated with civet cats and MERS-CoV is transmitted by dromedary camels. Possible animal sources of
COVID-19 have not yet been confirmed. To protect yourself, such as when visiting live animal markets,
avoid direct contact with animals and surfaces in contact with animals. Ensure good food safety
practices at all times. Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care to avoid contamination of
uncooked foods and avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal product