Current treatment protocol for COVID-19 in India.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread physical and mental distress globally.
• India faces escalating cases and deaths, necessitating robust containment and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the current COVID-19 situation in India.
• To discuss India's capacity to manage the pandemic and inform future public health responses.

Main Methods:

• Review of containment strategies: identification, contact tracing, quarantine, social distancing.
• Overview of diagnostic methods: real-time PCR, Point-of-Care assays, and pooled testing.
• Examination of treatment protocols: hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for chemoprophylaxis and combined therapy, convalescent plasma therapy.

Main Results:

• India utilizes a multi-pronged approach including containment, diagnostics, and specific drug therapies.
• The 'ArogyaSetu' mobile application is employed for citizen movement tracking.
• Convalescent plasma therapy has been initiated to manage severe COVID-19 cases.

Conclusions:

• India's response demonstrates a developing country's potential to manage a global health crisis.
• The strategies and experiences in India offer valuable insights for future pandemic preparedness.