Ahead of the festive season and amid the concern of the possibility of COVID-19 third wave in India as predicted by experts, chairman of India's COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), Dr NK Arora said that following Covid approproate behaviour is essential and critical to prevent the third wave of the pandemic in the country.
Dr Arora, as told to DD News, explained the COVID-19 situation in India and said that almost 30,000 - 45000 daily COVID-19 positive cases on an average are being reported in India in recent weeks. The high positive numbers are reported mostly from specific geographic regions, especially Kerala, many North Eastern States and a few districts of Maharashtra and some other southern states, he said in a release issued by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
“If we follow the genomic analysis of SARS-COV-2 viruses circulating during June, July and August, no new variants have emerged and on the basis of sero-survey conducted during July, the ongoing COVID cases represent the susceptible individuals who are not yet immunized; they are affected as part of the last phase of second wave,” he added.
Dr Arora further stated: “In the sero-survey of July, 66% to 70% people were found to be infected; this also means 30% people are still prone to infection; and that they can be infected any time particularly if they are still unvaccinated. Hence any complacency on the part of any of us throughout the country will cost hugely since the 30% people can be infected and many of them can develop severe disease, like we witnessed during April and May 2021”.
Hence, Dr Arora stressed upon following COVID Appropriate Behaviours as absolutely essential and critical, especially in view of the coming festive season.
"Emergence of new mutation around this time can also be a reason for the arrival of a third wave,” the chairman added.
