Devotee:
Gurudev, pranam.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pranam. Pranam, my son.
Devotee:
Today we have a doctor with us who is associated with a nursing home near Kolkata and treats patients there. We would like to start with his introduction. Namaskar, Sir.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
Namaskar. I am Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal. I am associated with ESI and I also have five chambers in Kolkata. I frequently visit Gurudev and consider myself blessed by him.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
In this time of the pandemic, we are all very concerned. The number of hospital beds is decreasing every day, and the number of infected people is rising everywhere. I want to emphasize two things for public awareness. First, regarding masks—this is how we usually wear them. This is not the correct way. I urge everyone to wear the mask so that it covers the nose properly. It should be sealed. If you wear glasses, use them to help seal the top edge. This is the correct way to wear a mask.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
I am explaining this because COVID-19 is an airborne disease. Initially, we thought it spread only through touch, but now even the WHO (World Health Organization) has been forced to admit it is airborne. Just like Streptococcal or Staphylococcal infections, this virus travels through the air via droplets. Therefore, the area through which you breathe must be sealed so that the air is filtered. If there are gaps, the number of COVID patients will not decrease.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
I urge the public: please be conscious. It doesn't matter what the government says; you must protect yourself first. If you save yourself, you save others, your family, and your neighbors. If you get infected, you aren't just one patient; you can potentially spread it to at least fifty others. Regardless of your means, please use masks. If you are using surgical masks, try wearing two. There are various types of surgical masks—three-layered or two-layered. Use the ones that have a light blue side and a dark blue side; they filter well. Using a mask that doesn't filter the air is useless.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
The second thing I want to say is that festivals like Chaitra Sale, Durga Puja, or Basanti Puja will come every year of your life. But if you are not careful now, you might not be around to see the next Durga Puja—and neither might your family. The situation is very grave.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
There are three or four new symptoms to watch for. Previously, we saw fever, cold, runny nose, sneezing, and cough, followed by breathing difficulties. The recent strain is different. You might not have a fever, cold, or cough. Instead, you might experience acidity, gas, or diarrhea. Then, after three or four days, severe breathing distress begins.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
If you experience sneezing, cough, loss of smell, loss of taste, allergic reactions, or gastrointestinal disorders like frequent loose motions, please get an RT-PCR test immediately. If caught early, it is curable; 95% of patients in West Bengal are recovering. It becomes complicated for those with co-morbidities like diabetes or hypertension.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
One more thing: last Monday, a patient brought a one-and-a-half or two-year-old child who wasn't wearing a mask. I see this trend in West Bengal and Kolkata where parents wear masks but don't put them on their children. Please do not take children out. If you must take them to a doctor, make sure they wear a mask.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Why even take them out? A terrible disease is spreading. I see hundreds of people here, and I scold them if they bring children without masks. The parents are the same; they just bring them along like that.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
They might feel offended if I scold them, but they don't understand the gravity because they lack practical experience. Also, people have become lax about sanitization. Last year, everyone was sanitizing, but now that trend has declined significantly.
Devotee:
Doctor, you mentioned wearing masks. Should we wear them 24 hours a day?
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
Wear them as long as you are outside. Inside the house, if no one has COVID symptoms, it isn't necessary. However, if your balcony faces a busy road with traffic, I would suggest wearing a mask even there.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
What we are saying now is based on assumptions; nothing is 100% proven yet because we don't have all the data. The whole world is learning. The virus is mutating and presenting new symptoms. We are not very optimistic about when this will end. The WHO said it might take two years, but I think it could take five. The recent strain is very dangerous. In Brazil, a strain has appeared where immunization (vaccines) isn't working effectively.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
It's similar to the flu vaccines in America or Europe, which people take every year around mid-October. It seems we might have to take COVID vaccines annually as well. I also believe mass vaccination should be opened up for everyone, not just those over 45.
Devotee:
Doctor, what does "increasing immunity" mean?
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
Immunity is the body's power to resist disease. Everyone has it, but it varies. For example, if five people walk together and one gets TB while the others don't, it means the others had higher resistance.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Most people hadn't even heard the word "immunity" until recently.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
That is because as we embrace a "fake" Western lifestyle, we move away from our natural resistance. We drink cold drinks and eat fast food, which lowers our immunity. How many young people today eat Amla, Haritaki, or Bohera? Our ancestors used these. Now, out of fear, people are making "Kadha" (herbal decoctions). We grew up with Tulsi leaves and honey for colds. Now everyone is returning to raw turmeric, Tulsi, and honey.
Devotee:
You call it "Pachon" (herbal tonic).
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
Yes, "Pachon." The more you consume these natural things, the higher your immunity will be. Raw turmeric has wonderful benefits.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
Regarding vaccines, I mentioned they weren't as effective against the Brazil strain, but that hasn't happened in India yet. However, the virus is constantly changing its symptoms. It used to be fever and cough; now it's direct breathing distress. It is adapting itself.
Devotee:
Does it vary from body to body?
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
Every person's physical structure is similar, but their immunity and internal functions are different. That's why out of five people, one might get sick and others won't.
Devotee:
Previously, if someone sneezed, people would stay away. Is that still the case?
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
People have stopped listening. For example, with chickenpox, we used to say stay confined for 20 days. Now, people walk around with pox eruptions. It is definitely contagious. There are reports from a hospital in Kolkata where the virus supposedly spread from one room to another through the AC ducts. These are observations, though not yet perfected news.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
The main issue is that people are not conscious. If we don't become alert, the consequences will be devastating. We can't even put it into words. As Gurudev said, his predictions often come true. The situation in West Bengal is worsening because of large gatherings, whether for politics or other reasons.
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
In my personal opinion, politics and other things should be secondary. COVID is primary. Try to save yourself and your family first. If you survive, you can do politics, celebrate pujas, or go on vacations later.
Devotee:
Friends, you heard the discussion. Please stay alert and follow Gurudev's message.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I am saying it again forcefully—if we don't follow the rules, a massive crisis is coming. You see what is happening in Brazil, Bangladesh, Delhi, or Mumbai. It will reach every household. Gujarat is also badly affected.
Devotee:
Doctor, it is cold in Europe but hot in India right now. Does temperature affect the virus?
Dr. Amitabha Ranjan Pal:
Practically, we see virus growth at around 35°C in labs. It isn't necessarily true that it spreads more in the cold and less in the heat. We saw the first wave start around March last year. The "tide" of the virus comes and goes. Right now, we are in the "high tide" of the second wave. It will eventually subside.
Devotee:
Thank you for your insights. Friends, please stay cautious. Namaskar, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Namaskar.