CMAAO Update 24^th February on COVID-19

Cases in Asia with no contact with a confirmed case, 624 cases in Korea, 33 countries, 4205 likely deaths, 2055 cases and 26 (1.26%) deaths outside China.  

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAA), HCFI AND Past National President IMA

Inputs: Dr Rajan Sharma, Dr R V Asokan, Dr KK Kalra, Dr Sushil Kumar, Dr Anita Arora, Dr Upasana Arora, Dr SS Srivastava, Dr Shilpi Khanna, Ms Swati, Dr Rahiul Shukla, Dr Arti Verma, Dr Anil Kumar, Dr G S Gyani, Dr Sonal Saxena, Dr CM Bhagat, Dr Vikas Manchanda, Dr Nandani Sharma, Dr Suneela Garg, Dr TK Joshi, Dr Mamta Jajoo, Dr Shariga Qureshi, Dr Manish Kumar, Dr Harmeet Singh, Dr Dr Rai, Dr VK Monga, Dr AP Singh,  Dr Ramesh Datta, Dr Maj Prachi Garg, Dr Anil Kumar,  Dr Ragini Agrawal, Dr Rajeev Kumar, Dr Harish Grover,  Dr Mini Mehta, Dr Lalan Bharti,  Dr Rajeev Sood, Dr N V Kamat, Dr Atin Kumar, Dr RN Tandon, Dr Kaushik Sinha Deb, Dr Tarun Mittal, Dr Dinesh Sahay, Dr SK Poddar

COVID 19 SUTRA

Possibly behaves like SARS; causes mild illness in 82%, severe illness in 15%, critical illness in 3% and death in 2 % cases ( 15% of admitted serious cases, 71% with comorbidity); affects all ages but predominately males ( 56%) with median age 59 years ( 2-74 years, less in children below 15);  with variable incubation period days ( 2-14;  mean 3 based on 1,324 cases, 5.2 days based on 425 cases,  6.4 days in travellers from Wuhan);  mean time to symptoms 5 days,  mean time to pneumonia 9 days, mean time to death 14 days,  3-4 reproductive number R0  ( flu 1.2, SARS 2), epidemic doubling time 7.5 days ( Korea 1 day probably due to super spreader), Tripling time in Korea 3 days, has origin possibly from bats, spreads like large droplets and predominately from people having lower respiratory infections and hence standard droplet precautions the answer for the public and close contacts and air born precautions for the healthcare workers dealing with the secretions.

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Clinically all patients have fever, 75% have cough; 50% weakness; 50% breathlessness with low total white count and deranged liver enzymes. 20% need ICU care and 15% of them are fatal. Treatment is symptomatic though chloroquine, anti-viral and anti-HIV drugs have shown some efficacy.

Pandemic Alert 21^st February

US CDC: Tremendous Public Health Threat.

WHO: "… we are concerned about the number of cases with no clear epidemiological link, such as travel history to China or contact with a confirmed case"

Public Health Emergency of International Concern 30^th Jan 2020 : Mandatory to report to WHO each human and animal case.

Prior 5 PHEIC’s:  

1.     26^th April 2009 - 10^th August 2010 Swine flu

2.      May 2014 Polio: resurgence of wild polio.

3.     August 2014 Ebola: It was the first PHEIC in a resource-poor setting.

4.      Feb 1 2016 to 18 Nov 2016 Zika

5.     2018–20 Kivu Ebola

Public Health Emergency of state Concern: Kerala lifted on 12^th Feb.

Community spread: Cases are detected in Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan in community where it's not known what the source of the infection was.

Close Contacts of COVID 19 patients : Providing direct care to patients, working with infected health care workers, visiting infected patients or staying in the same close environment, working together in close proximity or sharing the same classroom environment with an infected patient, traveling together with infected patient in any kind of conveyance, living in the same household as an infected patient. The epidemiological link may have occurred within a 14-day period before or after the onset of illness in the case under consideration. 

Daily Statistics

Total cases: 78,999

Deaths: 2,470

Recovered: 23,577

Currently Infected Patients: 52,952

Mild cases: 41,283(78%)

Serious or Critical: 11,569 (22%)

Deaths yesterday: 100 (97+1+2)

Serious or critical mortality 15%

Likely minimum deaths 2470 + 1735  (11,569 x15) =4205  with the present trend and available treatment (plus deaths linked to daily new cases)4

Serious or Critical23^rd Update

ITALY OUTBREAK (Feb. 23 Updates):

Mayor of one of the towns in lockdown says they've run out of coronavirus testing kits. [source] [source]

ECDC: "As the situation is rapidly evolving, more cases are expected in Italy [...] Extraordinary measures in northern Italy are essential to limit the outbreak and may need to be replicated in other communities in the coming days." [source]

78 new cases in Italy and 1 new death in Italy (a woman being treated for cancer in Crema), including 4 new cases near Bergamo, 2 new cases in Venice (historical center), a 17-year-old male in Valtellina, and a couple in Turin who visited their child at the Regina Margherita Hospital yesterday.

Current total cases in Italy:

- 114 cases in Lombardy (including 2 deaths):. The total includes: at least 76 in Codogno, 3 in Castiglione D'adda, 2 in Pieve Porto Morone, 1 in Casalpusterlengo, 1 in Pizzighettone, 1 in Sesto Cremonese, 1 in Santa Cristina e Bissone, 1 in Mediglia, 1 in Sesto San Giovanni, and 1 in Monza. Latest cases near Bergamo: 2 in Alzano Lombardo, 1 in Seriate, and 1 in Bergamo.

- 25 in Veneto (including 1 death): 19 in Vo' Euganeo, 3 in Dolo, 1 in Mira, and 2 in Venice..

-   9 in Emilia Romagna (all in Piacenza).

-   3 in Trentino Alto Adige (tourists from Lombardy)

-   3 in Piedmont (3 previously confirmed cases were later retracted).

-   3 in Rome (including 1 person who had been repatriated).

At least 26 patients (of which 17 in Lombardy) are in critical condition in intensive care.

11 towns, 50,000 people, placed in lockdown.

Armed forces and police forces have been mobilized to form an insurmountable "health belt" around contagion areas. Roadblock violators risk up to a 3 months prison sentence.

- Schools closed in Lombardy, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, and in Trentino Alto Adige regions. Universities closed in Piedmont.

- Carnival in Venice and all sport and public events in Veneto cancelled.

- All public and private events, including sport, cultural, and religious events in Lombardy cancelled. Movie theaters closed.

- More than 40 football matches, including at least 4 Serie A games, postponed.

- Armani cancels his fashion show today in Milan.

- Teatro alla Scala in Milan suspends all performances.

- "I think these three cases that have no contact with a primary carrier show how this virus is now ubiquitous so, as with flu symptoms, you get it and don't know who you got it from" said Veneto governon Luca Zaia who, in a separate comment, said "we are worried, drastic measures are needed."

- "Serious mistake was made not to quarantine people who arrived in Italy from China" said Walter Ricciardi of the WHO, adding that "within two weeks we will know if we are facing an epidemic" and advising that, for the next two weeks, people "should avoid crowded places: metro, buses, trains, schools, discos, and gyms."

see also: Feb. 22 Italy Outbreak

 SOUTH KOREA OUTBREAK (Feb. 23 Updates):

166 new cases and 4 new deaths in South Korea.

President Moon Jae-in raised the alert level to maximum (Level 4: Serious) thus empowering the government to lock down cities and restrict travel. “The coming few days will be a critical time for us” he said in an emergency meeting.

Last few days progression of total cases in South Korea:

Feb. 23: 602 cases (day still in progress)

Feb. 22: 436 cases

Feb. 21: 209 cases

Feb. 20: 111 cases

Feb. 19:  58 cases

Feb. 18:   31 cases

1 new case in Canada (Toronto) is a woman who arrived from China on Feb. 21. [source]

1 new case in Israel is a former passenger of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

4 new case in the UK are former passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

1 new death in Hubei province, China, of Huang Wenjun, a 42-year-old doctor.

57 new cases (55 crew members and 2 passengers, of which 52 asymptomatic) and 1 new death (a man in his 80s) from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. [source]

2 new deaths and 14 new cases in Iran. [source]

2 new cases in Taiwan: father an son, in their late 80s and 50s. [source]

- The older man, a kidney dialysis patient with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, had symptoms such as cough and runny nose on Feb. 6, developed fever and was diagnosed with pneumonia on Feb. 9, and had shortness of breath on Feb. 16, when he was transferred to the intensive care unit.

- The son, whose brother had returned from China on Feb. 2, started showing symptoms two days prior, on Jan 31. He had a fever, runny nose and sore throat on Jan. 31, went to the clinic on Feb. 4 and, due to continuous fever, went to the emergency room on Feb. 8, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He returned home for independent health management, but went back to the hospital twice - on Feb. 11 and Feb. 18 - before being isolated on Feb. 21.

12 new cases in Japan, including:

- a man in his 40s living in Chiba Prefecture who, after the onset of joint and muscle pain on Feb. 12, has been on a business trip to Hiroshima and Gifu prefectures.

- a woman in her 50s who works as a part-time school lunch attendant in Hokkaido. She had sore throat on February 15. She wore a mask, a white coat, and gloves, and carried lunches to 194 school children from the serving room to each classroom using a wagon.

1 new case in Australia from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

18 new cases and 1 new death occurred outside of Hubei province in China on February 22, as reported by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China,

630 new cases and 96 new deaths were reported by Hubei province in China for Feb. 22.

Summary Points

1.     Corona Namaste: Let’s not shake hands

2.     Time for facts, not fear; for rationality, not rumours and for solidarity, not stigma.

3.     Help line: 23978046

4.     Total number = Lab confirmed + CT Diagnosed Cases (12-19 February) and before and after only lab confirmed cases

5.     No or little evidence to support the possibility of vertical transmission from the mother to the baby. [Lancet Feb 20]

6.     Sudden jump in deaths and new cases on 12^th due to inclusion of CT diagnosed cases.

7.     WHO: Epidemic could still ‘go in any direction’ and outbreak just ‘beginning’ outside China?

8.      Coronavirus vaccine could be ready in 18 months (WHO) 

9.      Human to human contact Requires prolonged contact (possibly ten minutes or more) within three to six feet.

10.  14^th Feb: 1,716 medical workers have contracted the virus and six of them have died. 1,502 were in Hubei Province, with 1,102 of them in Wuhan. The numbers of infected workers represented 3.8 percent of China’s overall confirmed infections as of Feb. 11. (18^th Feb: Director of Wuhan Hospital died)

11.  Two workers who were sent to Wuhan in January end to help build new hospital have been infected with it

12.  The central banking authorities of China are disinfecting, stashing and reportedly even destroying cash to stop the spread of the coronavirus. People’s Bank of China says that the cash collected by commercial banks must be disinfected before being released back to customers.

13.   Maharishi Valmeki hospital in Delhi stops biometric attendance

14.   China has more than 80 running or pending clinical trials on potential treatments for COVID-19.

15.   634 infected people were found among 3,011 passengers and crew members tested (21% infection rate) out of 3,711 total people on the ship. 2 Deaths, 27 serious

16.  Growing number of clusters of coronavirus cases: a party in a boat in Japan Tokyo with 90 guests where one case spread to more than a dozen, or a church where 43 were infected. There are two likely explanations for the spread of these clusters of infected people: a “super-spreader,” or person who has the propensity to spew more germs than others; or people catching the virus from infected surfaces. We don’t know how long the germs stay on surfaces, but similar viruses can live for a week.

17.  Chinese researchers published the largest analysis of coronavirus cases to date. They found that although men and women have been infected in roughly equal numbers, the death rate among men was 2.8 percent, compared with 1.7 percent among women.

18.  Despite CDC protest, 14 Americans infected with coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship shared a plane back to the U.S. with healthy passengers, separated by plastic sheeting. (New York Post)

19.  An outlier of a 24 days incubation period has been observed. WHO said it could actually reflect a second exposure rather than a long incubation period, and that it wasn't going to change its recommendations? Hubei Province local government on Feb. 22 has reported a case with an incubation period of 27 days. 

20.  A court temporarily blocked the U.S. government from sending up to 50 people infected with a new virus from China to a Southern California city for quarantine after local officials argued that the plan lacked details about how the community would be protected from the outbreak.

Travel Restrictions

Travel advisory

Level 1 in all countries (Exercise normal standard hygiene precautions)

Level 2 in all affected countries (Exercise a high degree of caution)

Level 3 in all countries with secondary cases (Reconsider your need to travel)

Level 4 in affected parts of China and Korea (Do not travel)

Case fatality

COVID 19 2% ; MERS 34% (2012, killed 858 people out of the 2,494 infected); SARS 10% (Nov. 2002 - Jul. 2003, originated from Beijing, spread to 33 countries, with 8,096 people infected and 774 deaths); Ebola 50%; Smallpox 30-40%; Measles 10-15% developing countries; Polio 2-5% children and 15-30% adults; Diphtheria 5-10%; Whooping cough 4% infants < 1yr, 1% children < 4 years; Swine flu < 0.1-4 %; Seasonal flu 0.01%; COVID 19 in Wuhan 4.9%; COVID in Hubei Province 3.1%; COVID 19 in Nationwide 2.1%; COVID 19 in other provinces 0.16%.

Number of flu deaths every year: 290,000 to 650,000 (795 to 1,781 deaths per day)

About the Virus

 ‘Corona’ means crown or the halo surrounding the sun. Heart is considered crown and hence coronary arteries. In electron microscope, it is round with spikes poking out from its periphery.

Single-strand, positive-sense RNA genome ranging from 26 to 32 kilobases in length, Beta corona virus from Corona family.

One of the three deadly human respiratory coronaviruses. Others are sSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus [SARS-CoV] and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-CoV]).  COVID 19 is 75 to 80% identical to the SARS-CoV

Origin: Wuhan, China December 2019. 1^st case informed to the world by Dr. Li Wenliang died on 6^th Feb.

Virus is likely to be killed by sunlight, temperature, humidity. SARS stopped around May and June in 2003 due to more sunlight and more humidity.

Pathogenesis

High viral load: Detection of COVID 19 RNA in specimens from the upper respiratory tract with low Ct values on day 4 and day 7 of illness is suggestive of high viral loads and potential for transmissibility. [NEJM]

COVID 19 uses the same cellular receptor as SARS-CoV (human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [hACE2]), so transmission is expected more after signs of lower respiratory tract disease develop.

SARS is high [unintelligible] kind of inducer. This means that when it infects the lower part of the lung, the body develops a very severe reaction against it and leads to lots of inflammation and scarring. In SARS what we found is that after the first 10 to 15 days it wasn’t the virus killing the patients it was the body’s reaction. Is this virus in the MERS or SARS kind picture or is this the other type of virus which is a milder coronavirus like the NL63 or the 229? It may be the mild (unintelligible) kind inducer. [Dr John Nicholls University of Hong Kong]

COVID 19 grows better in primary human airway epithelial cells than in standard tissue-culture cells, unlike SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV. It is likely that COVID 19 will behave more like SARS-CoV.

Both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infect intrapulmonary epithelial cells more than cells of the upper airways. Consequently, transmission occurs primarily from patients with recognized illness and not from patients with mild, nonspecific signs. Though NEJM has reported a case of COVID 19 infection acquired outside of Asia in which transmission appears to have occurred during the incubation period in the index patient but the same has been challenged now.

Transmission

Zoonotic and linked to Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market as 55% with onset before January 1, 2020 were originated there but only 8.6% of the subsequent cases. The Chinese government has banned the wildlife trade until the epidemic passes. 

It is closely related to several bat coronaviruses. Bats are the primary reservoir for the virus. SARS-CoV was transmitted to humans from exotic animals in wet markets, whereas MERS-CoV is transmitted from camels to humans. In both cases, the ancestral hosts were probably bats.

It transmits predominantly with droplets like common flu and not like air born (TB, Measles, Chicken pox). Kissing scenes have been banned in movies in China. In Kerala air crew are exempted from breath analyser tests and China has banned death ceremonies, people gathering together,

NEJM reported a small cluster of five cases suggested transmission from asymptomatic individuals during the incubation period; all patients in this cluster had mild illness. But the same has been challenged. Another case got infected while using gown, but eyes not covered.

Initial serious illness in other countries were less as patients with breathlessness are unlikely to board and patients will mild illness or asymptomatic illness are less likely to transmit infections.

Legal Implications India: Section 270 in The Indian Penal Code: 270. Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease danger­ous to life.—Whoever malignantly does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Quarantine has Limitations

China imposed unprecedented quarantines across Hubei, locking in about 56 million people, in a bid to stop it spreading.

Villages in Vietnam with 10,000 people close to the nation's capital are placed under quarantine on 13^th Feb after six cases of the deadly new coronavirus were discovered there.

1.     21% quarantined in Diamond Ship got infected.

2.     The people on quarantine are kept under a 14-day quarantine. If they are placed together and if anyone is diagnosed during that period, the quarantine will add another 14 days.

3. The longer you have several thousand people cohoused you will continue to propagate waves of infection.
4. A better way to quarantine is to break up these people into smaller groups and quarantine them separately.
5. Why quarantine children < 15 years when the virus is not risky for them.
6. Why not separate elderly people with comorbid conditions at high risk of deaths and quarantine them separately in one to one or small groups.
7. Why allow people to celebrate and have cultural programs during quarantine. As was seen in India people dances together with surgical masks during quarantine period,
8. Ventilation system connects one room to the next. There has been previous concern that the coronavirus can spread through pipes
9. Stress and anxiety are known to suppress the immune system, making people more susceptible to contracting the virus. 
10. Quarantine them the way it was done in TB sanitoriums with both sun-balconies and a rooftop terrace where the patients would lie all day either in beds or on specially designed chairs.

Standard Respiratory Droplets Precautions

At triage: Surgical 3 layered mask to the patient; Isolation of at least three feet distance, Cough etiquette and Hand hygiene

Droplet precautions: Three-layer surgical mask by patients, their contacts and health care workers, in an adequately ventilated isolation room, health care workers while caring with the secretions should use eye protection, face shields/goggles. One should limit patient movement, restrict attendants and observe hand hygiene.

Contact precautions: When entering room - gown, mask, goggles, gloves – remove before leaving the room; Dedicated equipment/ disinfection after every use; Care for environment- door knobs, handles, articles, laundry; Avoid patient transport and Hand hygiene

Airborne precautions when handling virus in the lab and while performing aerosol-generating procedures. Room should be with negative pressure with minimum of 12 air changes per hour or at least 160 litres/second/patient in facilities with natural ventilation. There should be restricted movement of other people and all should use gloves, long-sleeved gowns, eye protection, and fit-tested particulate respirators (N95 or equivalent, or higher level of protection)

Public

Strict self-quarantine if sick with flu like illness: 2 weeks

Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching:  Eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact: (3-6 feet) with people who are sick with cough or breathlessness

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Masks

Surgical 3 layered Masks: For patients and close contacts

N 95 Masks: For health care providers when handling respiratory secretions.

Lab tests

1.     There are two ways to detect a virus: through the genetic material DNA or RNA or to detect the protein of the virus. The rapid tests look at the protein. It takes 8-12 weeks to make commercial antibodies. So right now, for the diagnostics tests they are using PCR which give you a turnaround in 1-2 hours.

2.       BOTH the upper respiratory tract (URT; nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal) AND lower respiratory tract (LRT; expectorated sputum, endotracheal aspirate, or bronchoalveolar lavage)

3.     Use PPE in the lab

4.     Use viral swabs (sterile Dacron or rayon, not cotton) and viral transport media

5.      In US January, all testing had to be done in CDC laboratories. However, on February 4, the US FDA issued an emergency-use authorization for the CDC's COVID 19 Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel, which allows it to be used at any CDC-qualified laboratory in the United States.

6.     Lab precautions: BSL 2 (3 for viral culture labs)

Treatment

1.     No proven antiviral treatment.

2.     With SARS, in 6 months the virus was gone, and it never came back.  Pharmaceutical companies may not spend millions and millions to develop a vaccine for something which may never come back.

3.      Secondary infection, E Coli, are most likely the cause of deaths of the patients in the Philippines and HK.

4.      A combination of lopinavir and ritonavir showed promise in lab in SARS. Combination of lopinavir, ritonavir and recombinant interferon beta-1b was tried in MERS.

5.      Scientists in Australia have reportedly recreated a lab-grown version of COVID 19.

6.      Chloroquine had potent antiviral activity against the SARS-CoV, has been shown to have similar activity against HCoV-229E in cultured cells and against HCoV-OC43 both in cultured cells and in a mouse model.

7.      Thailand: Oseltamivir along with lopinavir and ritonavir, both HIV drugs.

8.      Experimental drug: Rrom Gilead Sciences Inc., called remdesevir (started on 6^th Feb as a trial)

9.      Russia and China drug: Arbidol, an antiviral drug used in Russia and China for treating influenza, could be combined with Darunavir, the anti-H.I.V. drug, for treating patients with the coronavirus. {the COVID 19 shares some similarity to HIV virus also)

10.   PVP-I mouthwashes and gargles significantly reduce viral load in the oral cavity and the oropharynx. PVP-I has high potency for viricidal activity against hepatitis A and influenza, MERS and SARS

11.   The Drug Controller General of India has approved the "restricted use" of a combination of drugs (Lopinavir and ritonavir) used widely for controlling HIV infection in public health emergency for treating those affected by novel coronavirus.

12.   In SARS, people were put-on long-term steroids ending with immunosuppression and late complications and death. The current protocol is short term treatment.

Common Facts

1.     People receiving packages from China are not at risk of contracting the COVID 19 as the virus does not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages.

2.     There is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with COVID 19.

3.     Pneumococcal vaccine and Hib vaccine do not provide protection against COVID 19.

4.     Regularly rinsing the nose with saline does not protect people from infection with COVID 19 or respiratory infections although it can help people recover more quickly from the common cold.

5.     There is no evidence that using mouthwash will protect you from infection with COVID 19 although some brands or mouthwash can eliminate certain microbes for a few minutes in the saliva in your mouth.

6.     There is no evidence that eating garlic protects people from COVID 19.

7.     Sesame oil does not kill the new coronavirus. Chemical disinfectants that can kill the COVID 19 on surfaces are bleach/chlorine-based disinfectants, either solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid and chloroform.

8.     People of all ages can be infected by COVID 19. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

9.     Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

10.  To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat it. 

Trolls and conspiracy theories: Not validated and are fake news

1.     COVID 19 is linked to Donald Trump, and US intelligence agencies or pharmaceutical companies are behind it.

2.     That eating snakes, wild animals or drinking bat soup causes corona

3.     Keep your throat moist, avoid spicy food and load up on vitamin C

4.     Avoiding cold or preserved food and drinks, such as ice cream and milkshakes, for "at least 90 days".

5.     Experts have been aware of the virus for years.

6.     The virus was part of China's "covert biological weapons programme" and may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

7.     Linked to the suspension of a researcher at Canada's National Microbiology Lab. 

8.     China wants to kill 20,000 COVID 19 patients is totally false. The site is linked to a sex website.

Case Definitions

Suspect case

A. Patients with severe acute respiratory infection (fever, cough, and requiring admission to hospital), AND with no other etiology that fully explains the clinical presentation AND at least one of the following:

·       a history of travel to or residence in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in the 14 days prior to symptom onset, or

·       patient is a health care worker who has been working in an environment where severe acute respiratory infections of unknown etiology are being cared for.

B. Patients with any acute respiratory illness AND at least one of the following:

·       close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID 19 in the 14 days prior to illness onset, or

·       visiting or working in a live animal market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in the 14 days prior to

·       symptom onset, or

·       worked or attended a health care facility in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms where patients with hospital associated COVID 19 infections have been reported.

Probable case

A suspect case for whom testing for COVID 19 is inconclusive or for whom testing was positive on a pan-coronavirus assay.

Confirmed case

A person with laboratory confirmation of COVID 19 infection, irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms.

Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI)

An ARI with history of fever or measured temperature ≥38 C° and cough; onset within the last ~10 days; and requiring hospitalization. Absence of fever does NOT exclude viral infection

SARI in a person, with history of fever and cough requiring admission to hospital, with no other etiology that fully explains the clinical presentation (clinicians should also be alert to the possibility of atypical presentations in patients who are immunocompromised)

AND any of the following:

a)  A history of travel to Wuhan, Hubei Province China in the 14 days prior to symptom onset; or

b)  the disease occurs in a health care worker who has been working in an environment where patients with severe acute respiratory infections are being cared for, without regard to place of residence or history of travel; or

c)  the person develops an unusual or unexpected clinical course, especially sudden deterioration despite appropriate treatment, without regard to place of residence or history of travel, even if another etiology has been identified that fully explains the clinical presentation

OR A person with acute respiratory illness of any degree of severity who, within 14 days before onset of illness, had any of the following exposures:

a)  close physical contact with a confirmed case of COVID 19 infection, while that patient was symptomatic: or

b)  a healthcare facility in a country where hospital associated COVID 19 infections have been reported

Uncomplicated illness

Patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract viral infection, may have non- specific symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, malaise, headache, muscle pain or malaise. The elderly and immunosuppressed may present with atypical symptoms. These patients do not have any signs of dehydration, sepsis or shortness of breath

Mild pneumonia

Patient with pneumonia and no signs of severe pneumonia. Child with non-severe pneumonia has cough or difficulty breathing + fast breathing: fast breathing (in breaths/min): <2 months, ≥60; 2–11 months, ≥50; 1–5 years, ≥40 and no signs of severe pneumonia

Severe pneumonia

Adolescent or adult: fever or suspected respiratory infection, plus one of respiratory rate >30 breaths/min, severe respiratory distress, or SpO2 <90% on room air

Child with cough or difficulty in breathing, plus at least one of the following: central cyanosis or SpO2 <90%; severe respiratory distress (e.g. grunting, very severe chest indrawing); signs of pneumonia with a general danger sign: inability to breastfeed or drink, lethargy or unconsciousness, or convulsions. Other signs of pneumonia may be present: chest indrawing, fast breathing (in breaths/min): <2 months, ≥60; 2–11 months, ≥50; 1–5 years, ≥40.

The diagnosis is clinical; chest imaging can exclude complications.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Onset: new or worsening respiratory symptoms within one week of known clinical insult.

Chest imaging (radiograph, CT scan, or lung ultrasound): bilateral opacities, not fully explained by effusions, lobar or lung collapse, or nodules.

Origin of oedema: respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload. Need objective assessment (e.g. echocardiography) to exclude hydrostatic cause of oedema if no risk factor present.

Oxygenation (adults):

Mild ARDS: 200 mmHg < PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 mmHg (with PEEP or CPAP ≥5 cm H2O, or non-ventilated)

Moderate ARDS: 100 mmHg < PaO2/FiO2 ≤200 mmHg with PEEP ≥5 cm H2O, or non-ventilated)

Severe ARDS: PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 100 mmHg with PEEP ≥5 cmH2O, or non- ventilated)

When PaO2 is not available, SpO2/FiO2 ≤315 suggests ARDS (including in non-ventilated patients)

Oxygenation (children; note OI = Oxygenation Index and OSI = Oxygenation Index using SpO2)

Bilevel NIV or CPAP ≥5 cmH2O via full face mask: PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 mmHg

or SpO2/FiO2 ≤264

Mild ARDS (invasively ventilated): 4 ≤ OI < 8 or 5 ≤ OSI < 7.5

Moderate ARDS (invasively ventilated): 8 ≤ OI < 16 or 7.5 ≤ OSI < 12.3

Sever Sepsis

Adults: life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to suspected or proven infection, with organ dysfunction.

Signs of organ dysfunction include altered mental status, difficult or fast breathing, low oxygen saturation, reduced urine output, fast heart rate, weak pulse, cold extremities or low blood pressure, skin mottling, or laboratory evidence of coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, acidosis, high lactate or hyperbilirubinemia.

Children: suspected or proven infection and ≥2 SIRS criteria, of which one must be abnormal temperature or white blood cell count

Septic shock

Adults: persisting hypotension despite volume resuscitation, requiring vasopressors to maintain MAP ≥65 mmHg and serum lactate level >2 mmol/L

Children: any hypotension (SBP <5th centile or >2 SD below normal for age) or 2-3 of the following: altered mental state; tachycardia or bradycardia (HR <90 bpm or >160 bpm in infants and HR <70 bpm or >150 bpm in children); prolonged capillary refill (>2 sec) or warm vasodilation with bounding pulses; tachypnea; mottled skin or petechial or purpuric rash; increased lactate; oliguria; hyperthermia or hypothermia

e ARDS (invasively ventilated): OI ≥ 16 or OSI ≥ 12.3

•        Search:

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Country, Other	Total Cases	New Cases	Total Deaths	New Deaths	Total Recovered	Serious, Critical
China	76,947	+11	2,444	+2	23,338	11,477
Diamond Princess	691	+57	3	+1	17	36
S. Korea	624	+188	6	+4	18	7
Italy	157	+78	3	+1	2	26
Japan	146	+12	1		23	7
Singapore	89				51	5
Hong Kong	74	+4	2		12	6
Iran	43	+14	8	+2
Thailand	35				21	2
USA	35				7
Taiwan	28	+2	1		2	1
Australia	22	+1			11
Malaysia	22				18
Germany	16				14
Vietnam	16				15
U.K.	13	+4			8
U.A.E.	13				3	2
France	12		1		10
Canada	10	+1			3
Macao	10				6
Philippines	3		1		2
India	3				3
Israel	2	+1
Russia	2				2
Spain	2				2
Belgium	1				1
Cambodia	1				1
Egypt	1				1
Finland	1				1
Lebanon	1
Nepal	1				1
Sri Lanka	1				1
Sweden	1
Iraq	1

•        Highlighted in green

•        = all cases have recovered from the infection.

•        Highlighted in grey

•        = all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases).

Role of CMAAO and other Medical Associations

Get prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of the virus and to share full data with WHO.   All countries should emphasise on reducing human infection, prevention of secondary transmission and international spread. Intensify IEC activities.

CMAAO IMA FOMA MAMC Recommendations

1.     Prise control of PPE

2.     Acctreditation of private labs for testing

3.     Private insurance should cover the infectyion

4.     IEC and CME activities to be intensified

5.     Allow paid leaves for air born and droplet infections

6.     Allow teleconsultations in flu like diseases

7.     CSR funds for vaccine research

8.     Surgical three-layered masks at public places

9.     Start National program on respiratory secretions born illnesses

10.  In India incorporate respiratory infection control under swatch bharat

CMAAO _ Suggestions so far

1.     7^th January: CMAAO Alert: WHO to monitor China's mysterious pneumonia of unknown virus outbreak

2.      8^th Jan: CMAAO warns Asian citizens travelling China over mystery pneumonia outbreak

3.      10^th January: Editorial: COVID 19 strain causing pneumonia in Wuhan, China, It’s a new strain of corona virus in the china pneumonia

4.      13^th Jan: China Virus Outbreak Linked to Seafood Market

5.      15^th Jan: First Case China Pneumonia Virus Found Outside China in Thailand

6.      17^th Jan: WHO issues warning after 'mysterious' Chinese COVID 19 spreads to Japan

7.      17^th Jan: India at threat of Corona. CMAAO urges travel advisory on coronavirus: drugtodayonline.com/medical-news/nation/10379-cmaao-urges-travel-advisory-on-coronavirus.html  (18^th Indian govt issues travel advisory as China's mysterious 'Coronavirus' spread in other countries)

8.      18^th Jan: WHO issues warning after mysterious Chinese Coronavirus spreads to Japan [http://blogs.kkaggarwal.com/tag/who/]

9.      18-20 Jan: Three countries CMAAO meet, also discussed COVID 19

10.   22^nd Jan: Still not being declared to be a notifiable disease, N 95 to be included in the list of essential drugs and prise capped, Oseltamivir, should also be prise capped, air flights should have available air masks for all passengers, not declaring flu like symptoms while boarding or landing should be a punishable offence (23^rd India advisory to airports)

11.   24^th: Inter Ministerial Committee needs to be formed on COVID 19 (PMO took a meeting on 24^th evening)

12.   25^th Jan: Indian government should pay for Indians affected with the virus in China

13.   26 Jan: Need of National droplet Infection Control program, Policy to ban export of face masks, policy to evacuate Indians and neighbouring countries from China affected areas, Time to collaborate on Nosode therapy (Exports of masks banned on 31^st January by Indian Government) Action:  [ Feb 1^st: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked India for the evacuation of seven Maldivian nationals from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan. India evacuated 647 people] [ on 30^th India banned gloves, PEP and masks but on 8^th lifted the ban on surgical masks/disposable masks and all gloves except NBR gloves. All other personal protection equipment, including N-95 and equipment accompanying masks and gloves shall remined banned.] 

14.   27^th Jan: History of anti-fever drugs at airports should be taken

15.   28^th Jan: Do research on Nosodes

16.   29^th Jan: Closure of live markets all over the world, India should take a lead

17.   30^th Jan: Paid flu leave, surgical mask at public places, N 95 for health care providers

18.   31^st Jan: Respiratory hygiene advisory schools, Pan India task force to be made 

19.   1^st Feb: Disaster Budget is the need of the hour

20.   3^rd Feb: 100 crore budget for COVID 19; Private labs to be recognised; one dedicated COVID 19National help line, MTNL BSNL to have a line of advisory in their bills, isolation wards to be single rooms or two beds separated with six feet distance, national insurance to cover cost of treatment,  Sea ports to have same precautions, prize caps for masks, and gloves, National droplet control program, clarification that import of goods is not risky And suspend AI flights to China and Hong Kong  [Feb 4 Air India on Tuesday suspended flight services to Hong Kong from Friday until March 28. Earlier, Air India had cancelled its flight to Shanghai from January 31 to February 14 and on 5^th Feb the Ministry of Defence is setting up 10 new laboratories across the country, primarily to conduct research on viruses] [ 14^th Feb: Japan to earmark $140 million to combat coronavirus. The government will earmark 15.3 billion yen (approximately $140 million) for emergency measures, including ones to bolster testing and medical treatment capacity, to double mask production to more than 600 million a month, and credits for small and medium-sized businesses hurt by the outbreak.

21.   4^th Feb: Kerala travel advisory needed [The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a fresh travel advisory on Monday urging people to refrain from visiting China]

22.   5^th Feb: PM should talk about COVID 19in Man Ki Baat or a special address

23.   6^th Feb: Time to have makeshift bed policy to tackle deaths in Kota, Muzaffarpur and COVID 19[Uttarakhand to set up two dedicated hospitals to tackle coronavirus : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/uttarakhand-to-set-up-two-dedicated-hospitals-to-tackle-coronavirus/story-NYxBOw6XHTbugznTWa3CXK.html]

24.   7^th Feb: IPC 270 should be applicable to COVID 19

25.   8^th Feb: teleconsultation should be allowed to flu and COVID 19consultation

26.  9^th Feb: Schools should start droplet prevention program

27.  10^th Feb: Pharma freebee how to handle

28.  11^th Feb: IMR should be classified as preventable vs non preventable

29.  12^th Feb: Swatch Bharat should include COVID 19 prevention