No need to panic over COVID, says IMA

The Indian Medical Association has advised the public not to worry and panic unnecessarily over the resurgence of COVID. However, it was extremely important that all standard precautions were maintained to prevent disease transmission and to protect the vulnerable groups from contracting the disease, a statement issued by the Kerala IMA State president, K.A.Srivilasan and secretary, K. Sasidharan said in a statement here on Wednesday.

IMA said that the Omicron variants caused only short-term symptomatic illness and that in Kerala, where there is a high level of primary vaccination coverage among the public, the risk of these variants causing severe disease was rare.

Yet, people with relatively weak immune systems, such as those with serious chronic ailments like cancer, kidney diseases and heart diseases should be extremely careful.

IMA pointed out that maintaining precautions was important as COVID cannot be easily distinguished from other seasonal infectious diseases through clinical symptoms alone. The risk of disease can be eliminated to a large extent through physical distancing, the use of masks, and hand hygiene.

IMA has advocated the widespread use of masks in all healthcare centres. Visitors should be restricted in hospitals. People with respiratory symptoms should strictly avoid contact with others till their symptoms subside. It appealed to the public to cooperate with the diagnostic tests and treatment facilities arranged by the government and the Health department.

IMA has extended its full cooperation to the government and the Health department to combat the COVID surge.

Published - June 04, 2025 09:15 pm IST