The coronavirus pandemic which has troubled healthcare of the world has a silver lining as it successfully curtails the spread of STDs. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were on a rise and reported regularly. But after the arrival of COVID-19, there has been a significant decline in reporting and spread of STDs cases due to the lockdown, social distancing measures. The lower rate of reported STDs was not unexpected, according to the CDC, and can be attributed to resource changes, decreases in testing due to pandemic-related clinic closures, and ‘sexual distancing’ triggered by stay-at-home orders.
The lockdown of the coronavirus will help break the chain of sexually transmitted infections ( STDs), experts claim. We know that reporting and spread of STDs are slowed down by strict social distancing steps, so sexual health experts agree that in the decades-long battle against all STDs, the specific set of conditions created by the imposition of lockdown provides an unparalleled opportunity. After COVID-19, one of the things that have happened to sexual health facilities is that healthcare workers dealing with STDs have been redeployed, and there has been a demand to reorganize and improve, so there is a big shift towards online consultations. Except for those who are vulnerable, walk-in clinics have halted. Patients deemed to be vulnerable include those under 16 years of age, patients with safeguarding problems, and sexual harassment. Patients that display signs of seroconversion with HIV, a pelvic inflammatory disorder, or genital ulceration that may be attributed to syphilis are seen Face-to-face. For some procedures, such as intramuscular injections, certain patients often need to come in, but doctors have to do this with complete PPE on.
But this is not just the entire scenario, decline in STDs due to the pandemic was seen initially after the outbreak of the virus in the months of January to March. After the end of March as soon as the lockdown measures were relaxed, people began moving and made decisions about where they would then end up spending more lockdown time. This led to couples and families coming together. Afterward, it was noticed that. If they have contracted a new STD, patients could be more fearful of coming forward because it also means they have a “broken lockdown.”It is an unparalleled opportunity for individuals to come forward and get screened for STDs, figure out therapy, and avoid any further transmission as lockdown continues. There are numerous programs undertaken by sexual health experts everywhere. The chances of picking up HIV in the last few months are very slim, so now is a good time to invite people for HIV tests (if they do not do them online) so that they know their HIV status and talk about behavioral change and provide them with Preparation, so they have a primary preventive tool when lockdown eases.
The decline in reporting and spread of STDs
