Research Artcle Epidemiology Internatonal (ISSN: 2455-7048) Copyright (c) 2020: Author(s). Published by Advanced Research Publicatons Special Issue on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) - Epidemiology International Volume 5, Issue 1 - 2020, Pg. No. 10-13 Peer Reviewed & Open Access Journal Corresponding Author: Dr. Vidya Jha, Asst. Medical Administrator, Amrita Insttute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Cochin, Kerala, India. E-mail Id: vidyajha29@gmail.com Orcid Id: htps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7524-3566 How to cite this artcle: Jha V, Dinesh TA, Nair P. Are we Ready for Controlling Community Transmission of COVID 19 in India? Epidem Int 2020; 5(1): 10-13. Date of Submission: 2020-03-22 Date of Acceptance: 2020-03-28 I N F O A B S T R A C T Are we Ready for Controlling Community Transmission of COVID 19 in India? Vidya Jha 1 , Dinesh TA 2 , Prem Nair 3 1 Assistant Professor, Asst. Medical Administrator, Amrita Insttute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Cochin, Kerala, India. 2 Professor & HOD, Master of Hospital Administraton, Amrita Insttute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Cochin, Kerala, India. 3 Professor, Department of Hospital Administraton, Amrita Insttute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Cochin, Kerala, India. DOI: htps://doi.org/10.24321/2455.7048.202003 The globe is witnessing COVID-19 pandemic and in India the confrmed cases are increasing day by day. Impact of limits on diagnostc testng in Indian populaton (1.38 billion) and on controlling the COVID-19 outbreak will be huge. These issues can be mitgated up to a certain limit by increased availability of diagnostc tests or the use of a point-of- care diagnostc test. The buzz word is “Social distancing” and over 63% of the populaton should practce it to make it efectve. If appropriate measures are not taken, all hospital beds will be occupied in the coming 1-2 months and there will be shortage of Personal protectve equipment and masks for healthcare workers. Are we doing enough to protect our healthcare workers? Are we ready to control community transmission of COVID-19 in India? Keywords: COVID-19, Diagnostic Tests, Social Distancing, Community Transmission The latest updates on COVID-19 cases in India suggest that the virus is everywhere and it’s tme to accept to move into a new phase in our response strategy. As of March 27 th , there were 863 cases in India and growing and 20 deaths, meaning you’re probably going to see the numbers increasing soon. 1 The numbers also refect that the underlying burden of illness is much larger than what is being reported and the virus has been circulatng for a few weeks in India. The center and state ofcials did a commendable job in closing schools, colleges, malls, parks, mandate travel restrictons across borders, or quarantne travelers coming into the state/ country at an appropriate tme. The critcality in creatng and approving diagnostc tests for the corona virus that lets healthcare professionals know where the virus is and how far it’s spreading can be understood by looking how South Korea (populaton 51.47m) has done so far. It has run more than 330,000 corona virus tests (8652 confrmed cases, 94 deaths). 2 It is the most expansive and well-organized testng program in the world, in combinaton with extensive eforts to isolate infected people and trace and quarantne their contacts. In comparison, at the emergence of corona cases in USA not only were the Centers for Disease Control and Preventon Covid-19 test kits fawed, but few people qualifed for Covid-19 testng. It is for sure that shortages in testng for Corona virus will put people at risk.