COVID-19: A Brief Retrospect

R Rajendran; S B  Anusree; M S  Sasi; D Sheela Devi; S N Sharma; Nupur Lal

R Rajendran Former Joint Director, National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
S B Anusree Research Assistant, National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
M S Sasi Assistant Director, Directorate of Health Services, Government of Kerala, India.
D Sheela Devi Former Associate Professor, MMNSS College, Kottiyam, Kollam, Kerala, India.
S N Sharma Former Senior Consultant, National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Government of India, Delhi, India.
Nupur Lal Professor, Department of Zoology, YBN University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.

Keywords: COVID-19, Route Map, Community Transmission, Vaccination Status, Public Health Infrastructure, Case Fatality Rate

Abstract

A country like India, having a population of 1.3 billion with diverse topographies, conglomerate climatic conditions, vast ethnic diversities and high population density; was subjected to a litmus test when the first case of new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was diagnosed on January 30, 2020, in Kerala in a medical student who returned from China. The Government of Kerala (Gok), following the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Govt. of India, swiftly enhanced its health and hygiene department. They implemented strict containment, isolation and other preventive measures to halt the rapid spread of the disease in the community. The Govt. of Kerala could manage the COVID-19 pandemic using the five major components-trace, quarantine,
test, isolate and treat. Kerala’s success in restraining COVID-19 relies on the stable setting up of a successfully fabricated infrastructure to support social and human development including a well-equipped public healthcare delivery system. The grass-root empowerment in all realms of life articulated with decentralised governance helped the state prompt and immediate measures to contain the disease. The Govt. of Kerala has taken several welfare measures to extend care and support to the downtrodden, especially during the lockdown period. The lessons and experiences from Kerala state highlight the importance of a robust and dedicated public health system with active community participation for the guidance and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerala’s COVID-19 response serves as a yardstick for effective public health infrastructure utilisation.

How to cite this article:
Rajendran R, Anusree S B, Sasi M S, Devi D S,
Sharma S N, Lal N. COVID-19: A Brief Retrospect.
J Commun Dis. 2024;56(3):141-168.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202459

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