Nosocomial transmission of SARS CoV 2: the missing link in interventions?

A better understanding of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, its sequelae, and how its mortality can be curtailed is a priority. While predictions that much of the population will get infected before the epidemic abates due to a depletion of the susceptible population would seem robust, predictions of the morbidity and mortality burden that this will generate and the impact of interventions are still somewhat speculative. Interventions are mostly aimed at increasing social distancing, e.g. by closing schools and shops, and banning social gatherings, often amounting to a complete lockdown of societies. While such measures are probably successful in reducing contacts among the young and healthy, they conspicuously fail to curb transmission to the old and vulnerable dependent on care who are increasingly the victims of this pandemic. We discuss the critical role of nosocomial transmission in the COVID-19 pandemic.