NDTV and Facebook held a townhall on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 or SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 disease. A novel virus is one that has not been previously identified in humans. Several experts discussed how to keep oneself safe and best practices for self-isolation. "We need to come up with a fair, transparent, equitable plan on how distribution of vaccines will happen in future," World Health Organisation chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said. "Social stigma against doctors and their families is shameful. How can we be so inhuman?" Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said. "The virus can exist on metal surfaces... best to stay home," said Dr Rajveer Purohit, Associate Professor, Mount Sinai Hospital. "It is important that you get treated appropriately and get isolated so that your family members don't get infected," said Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director, Medanta.
