Sneha Dey*, Sneha Mohan and Dalip K Kakru
Introduction
The virus causing COVID - 19 pandemic was designated as “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS - CoV - 2)” by the ICTV on 11 February 2020.
MaterialsandMethods
A retro - prospective observational study undertaken to compare the demographic profile of COVID positive patients between the two waves of the pandemic. The period September 2020 to January 2021 was taken as the first wave and February 2021 to May 2021 as the second wave of the pandemic.
Results
During September 2020 to May 2021 covering both waves of the pandemic, 40,471 samples (nasopharyngeal / oropharyngeal swabs) were received in the BSL2 Virology lab for COVID - 19 RT PCR among which 2368 were positive. The prevalence of COVID in our tertiary care hospital was hence calculated to be 0.06 %. During the 1st wave, 45.74 % belonged to the age group of 20 to 40 years and during the 2nd wave 55.45 % belonged to this age group during the 1st wave, 35 % of those affected were females and 65 % were males. This was same for the 2nd wave. During the first wave it was observed that 30.99 % of those affected were slum dwellers. This percentage was slightly lower during the second wave being 20 %.
Conclusion
The younger population was more affected. Vaccines need to be made available to a greater chunk of the population. The need of the hour is implementation of stringent norms for transmission - based precautions in order to deflect a massacre similar to the one witnessed in 2021.
