Significance of 21-day lockdown period

Significance of 21-day lockdown period

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Governance; Health; GS III – Disaster Management; Science and Technology

In News: 

• Indian Prime Minister recently announced 21-day lockdown period in the entire country to contain the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

• 21­day quarantine was encouraged extensively during Ebola crisis as well.

• The calculations are based on the estimated incubation period of the virus in the human host. 

• Usually, incubation period for any infection is 14 days epidemiologically.

• Another week is added to ensure that the infection dies out and the host is entirely safe.

• Since, this is a novel corona virus, the scientists have estimated the time between entry of virus to the onset of infection, falls within this period, known as median incubation period.

• It was also recently reported that the median incubation period for COVID­19 is just over five days.

• 97.5% of people who develop symptoms do so within 11.5 days of infection. 

• This is the most effective way of preventing the spread of infection.

• Maintaining personal hygiene and practising personal distancing are other ways of prevention.

Important value additions:

Ebola 

• Ebola virus disease (EVD) is also known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever.
• It is viral haemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses. 
• The virus causes severe bleeding, organ failure and can lead to death.
• Humans may spread the virus to other humans through contact with bodily fluids such as blood.

Quarantine 

• Quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests.