What is the current situation of COVID-19 in India?

What is the current situation of COVID-19 in India?

According to WHO, as of 14th September 2021, India has reported a total of 33,289,579 confirmed cases with the highest number of cases in a day (414,188) reported on 7th May 2021. From mid-July to the end of August 2021 the daily cases were around 40,000. Since then it has started to decline gradually, reaching around 25,000 per day in September.

In the past week (9-14 September), as compared to the previous week (1-7 September), a notable decline (20%) in the total number of cases reported across India. Higher decline has been reported from Maharashtra (-63%), Uttar Pradesh (-47%), Ladakh (-39%) and Tripura (-37%).

The reason for the decline in COVID cases can be because of an increase in vaccination and strict following of covid appropriate behaviour (that includes regular hand sanitization and use of masks). With the prediction of the third wave of COVID in India, we all need to strive to reduce the impact on lives of people, so it is important to keep wearing masks even after vaccination. (Source: WHO)

Should you wear masks even after vaccination?

It is important to wear masks even after vaccination to save others who are not vaccinated yet and children plus young adults below 18 years of age. Children are not yet vaccinated and it is difficult for young children to wear masks so it is important to wear masks to save children from getting infected. Vaccination prevents serious illness but people with diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and other immunocompromised conditions are still at high risk, so it’s important to keep wearing masks.

Choosing and wearing masks:

Keeping all this in mind at the end of our project with Grand Challenges Canada we hosted a co-creation workshop with the help of The Change Designers. This was a four-day co-creation workshop during which we engaged all our stakeholders in a design workshop to co-create a vision for the next communication strategy for Saral Designs. During the four-day workshop we have involved all teams of Saral Designs, machine partners (entrepreneurs), intermediaries including Senior Sanginis and Sanginis and NGO partners on the first three days and funders from Grand Challenges Canada and Yes Foundation on Day 4.

Using visual tools for presenting data in the form of a story

This process allowed participants to raise questions for further exploration, discover new possibilities for creating communication interventions and weave narratives from the resources shared. It was an immersive experience and was designed by The Change Designers using a unique mix of systems thinking, design thinking, liberating structures and storytelling to engage stakeholders.

Brainstorming activity to design a communication campaign 

With help of storytelling, we worked on the concepts of behaviour change communication, inclusion of men and Transgender in menstrual health management, developing a mascot, re-strategizing the brand positioning of Saral and development of need based communication materials. We further put the ideas on a jam board and worked towards the common suggestions given by the stakeholders.

By the end of the workshop, we have come up with the next step for Saral Designs in building a better communication approach by creating an impactful campaign and a model for Saral Design’s exponential growth and reach. It came out from the various discussions that Saral Designs will have to build a compelling brand story using a central character or a mascot along with a 360 degree transmedia campaign. 

According to WHO, as of 14th September 2021, India has reported a total of 33,289,579 confirmed cases with the highest number of cases in a day (414,188) reported on 7th May 2021. From mid-July to the end of August 2021 the daily cases were around 40,000. Since then it has started to decline gradually, reaching around 25,000 per day in September.

In the past week (9-14 September), as compared to the previous week (1-7 September), a notable decline (20%) in the total number of cases reported across India. Higher decline has been reported from Maharashtra (-63%), Uttar Pradesh (-47%), Ladakh (-39%) and Tripura (-37%).

The reason for the decline in COVID cases can be because of an increase in vaccination and strict following of covid appropriate behaviour (that includes regular hand sanitization and use of masks). With the prediction of the third wave of COVID in India, we all need to strive to reduce the impact on lives of people, so it is important to keep wearing masks even after vaccination. (Source: WHO)

Should you wear masks even after vaccination?

It is important to wear masks even after vaccination to save others who are not vaccinated yet and children plus young adults below 18 years of age. Children are not yet vaccinated and it is difficult for young children to wear masks so it is important to wear masks to save children from getting infected. Vaccination prevents serious illness but people with diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and other immunocompromised conditions are still at high risk, so it’s important to keep wearing masks.

Choosing and wearing masks:

What is double masking?

As per latest guidelines from US CDC and Ministry of Health in India, double masking is advised for people going in crowded spaces. Cloth mask covers the face and then surgical mask on top of it which can be disposed of after use.

Do you want to help reduce the spread of COVID-19?

With the support from SAMRIDH, supported by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Saral Designs has increased our production capacity to 1 million masks per month and aims at producing 9 million masks over a period of 12 months to be better prepared for other waves of COVID-19. The blended financing solution will help us in distribution of masks to more vulnerable populations at subsidized costs which typically get ignored by traditional distribution channels.

These masks are reaching remote locations in Sukma, Chhattisgarh to Arunachal Pradesh with NGOs like Shiksharth and Amaya while also being used by many Government hospitals in Goa and Maharashtra.

You can also join the movement and support Non-profits, your workplace and housing societies fight COVID-19. Drop us a line at [email protected] for sourcing and more information.

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