Indian-American doctor writes to West Bengal govt; urges Mamata not to take COVID lightly

Describing coronavirus as exceptionally infective and highly lethal, an eminent Indian-American cardiologist has urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee t to take anything for granted and take all necessary steps to prevent large-scale illness and fatalities in state. Tennessee-based Dr Indranill Basu Ray, in a letter to Banerjee, said that India, including West Bengal, may be lucky because of a different viral strain t having such a severe infection. "I am compelled to point out fact that as West Bengal is exceptionally crowded, virus, if it infects a particular locality, will spread like wildfire, affecting thousands and killing quite a few," he said.

 'COVID-19 exceptionally infective, highly lethal'

It is essential to maintain strict social distancing and ensure that this dangerous virus could be prevented from spreading and killing as it has been doing in certain western countries, cardiologist said in his letter.

"We cant take anything for granted as you will regret if thousands are infected, and hundreds start dying because of a lack of strictness in preventing spread and appropriate detection of COVID-19.

"I would refore kindly request you to take urgent steps to realise deadliness of this virus and fact that it is a killing machine. Appropriate measures, including augmented testing, isolation of all contacts, and forceful enforcement of lockdown, are mandatory to prevent exact scenario as seen in west," he said, adding that coronavirus is exceptionally infective and highly lethal.

Dr Ray, a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist who has also been a Professor of medicine and public health at multiple universities in US and India, expressed shock that instead of doctors, a committee has been asked to provide COVID-19 death certificates. "Hushing up such infection and t taking appropriate precautions like isolation would lead to death and destruction, which I certainly kw that you would t like as Chief Minister of my state," he added. In India, total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 67,152, after a record number of 4,213 new cases were reported in last 24 hours till Monday 8 AM, while death toll rose by 97 to 2,206, Union Health Ministry said in its daily update.

Im credits: PTI