What is optimum oxygen saturation level, efficacy of Remdesivir and why mask is important—AIIMS Director explains it all

As India being severely battered by the surge in coronavirus cases, All India Institute of Medical Science Director Dr Randeep Guleria pacifies the fellow citizens by explaining the importance of the covid vaccine and the normal oxygen level in the body if infected by the virus.  

Amid the oxygen crisis in the country, Guleria explains at what level a covid patient is in real need of oxygen support. He states, “In healthy individuals with oxygen saturation of 93-94 per cent, there is no need to take high flow oxygen just to maintain your saturation at 98-99 per cent. If it’s less than 94 per cent, you need to monitor closely but you still may not need oxygen.”  

Due to the shortage of oxygen support, at least around 100 people have died after getting the covid infection in India, mostly in Delhi. India, in the last 24-hour reported, around 4 lakh fresh cases and as many as 3700 deaths after contracting to covid infection.  

Terming oxygen as like treatment-drug, Guleria says, taking it intermittently is an absolute waste of oxygen. Similarly, he adds, “Remdesivir not a magic bullet, it’s given to only patients who are hospitalised and have moderate to severe disease.”  

Guleria in his statement also says, “The vaccine prevents you from getting the disease in the form of severe illness. It may prevent you from getting an infection. Important to understand that even after the vaccine we may have a positive report, it is why important to wear a mask even after the vaccine.”  

Wearing masks, washing your hands with soap and water or by sanitizer, and keeping a social distance of at least two meters, is what universal basic measures every institution and government urging every person to follow to avoid the covid infection.  

Explaining the recovery rate post infected by covid is at around 85 per cent without any treatment so far, the AIIMS Director says, over 5-7 days, the patient will recover with symptomatic treatment and only 15 per cent may go to moderate disease.”