Telecom operators across India are taking proactive steps to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Major providers including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and the state-owned BSNL issued a standard health advisory to callers on Sunday. The message advised:
“Always cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Wash your hands regularly with soap. Avoid touching your face, eyes or nose. If someone has cough, fever or shortness of breath, keep at least one metre distance.
If necessary, seek immediate care at the nearest health centre.”
With one of the world’s largest populations, India has so far kept confirmed COVID-19 case numbers relatively low. At the time of writing, official counts showed only six confirmed cases in the country.
However, as experience from other nations demonstrates, that situation can change rapidly. The telecoms’ public service announcements aim to educate citizens about practical steps they can take to protect themselves and limit onward transmission to family, coworkers and the wider community.
Researchers have identified two main strains of the virus and have reported that co-infection with both strains is possible. The strain associated with more severe illness has been spreading quickly in some regions, but some experts predict it may eventually decline, leaving a milder form that causes symptoms similar to a common cold in most people.
Governments around the world are focused on containment efforts to slow transmission. Measures under consideration include restrictions on large public gatherings, targeted quarantines and other interventions intended to reduce case growth.
The primary concern is preventing healthcare systems from being overwhelmed. If hospitals become inundated with patients, even routine care can be disrupted. Delaying the peak of cases—ideally into periods when hospital demand is lower—could improve outcomes and give health services more time to prepare.
At the time of writing, global confirmed cases numbered 111,828 with 3,893 reported deaths.