As COVID-19 continues to ravage India, the government has warned that one infected person can infect up to 406 people in a month, if prevention rules are not followed.

India Today quoted Lav Agrawal, the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, saying that the findings are based on scientific studies into the matter.

He noted that if a COVID-19 positive person does not practise social distancing measures, he or she can infect up to 406 people in 30 days, and just by reducing the exposure by half, the rate of infection can go down to 15 people in as much time.

"If the infected person reduces the physical exposure by 75 percent, then they can infect 2.5 people in 30 days," Agrawal reportedly told a press conference.

Agrawal added that studies have shown that there is still chance of an infected person transmitting the virus to an uninfected person, even with a six feet distance between them.

"If masks are not used peoperly, then there is a 90 percent chance of an infected person infecting an uninfected person."

If both the infected and uninfected persons wears masks, the chance of infection goes down to a mere 1.5 percent, and even lower when there is a six feet distance between them, Agrawal stressed.

India so far has a recorded total of 17.6 million COVID-19 cases, and 197,000 deaths from the disease - placing it second to the United States in the list of worst-hit countries.

The global infection and death tally from the coronavirus currently stands at 148 million, and 3.13 million, respectively.


Source: India Today
Photo source: Reuters via India Today