India Coronavirus Dispatch: Are politicians potential super-spreaders?

 

In Punjab, the age group 0-50 accounts for 73.7 per cent of the total state case load. The mortality rate among those infected in this age group, however, is 26.8 per cent. The age group 51-90 accounts for 26.3 per cent of infections but has a mortality rate of 72.4 per cent. Comorbidities, experts say, are the major reason driving the high fatality rate among the elderly. Till August 28, about 17 per cent of infections were noted in the age group 41-50, some 15 per cent for those aged 51-60, around eight per cent for the 61-70 group and only three per cent for 71-80. An official further noted that diabetes is emerging as major problem in Punjab because of the state’s ‘rich diet and sedentary lifestyle’. This, he says, needs to be curbed along with following precautions like wearing face masks and maintaining social distance.

Karnataka has seen over 40 legislators, across party lines, test positive for Covid-19 so far. Epidemiologists have now warned that those in public life must take extra caution as they run the risk of becoming super-spreaders. The state’s CM Yediyurappa and six ministers of his cabinet have so far been infected. A senior health department official has now said that most of the politicians who caught the virus were infected after attending public events and added that social distancing and other protocol were rarely followed by these leaders when in public. Other experts say that politicians are a particularly vulnerable group because they have to interact with a large number of people daily. Read More