3rd COVID-19 Wave May Not Happen If We Take Strong Measures: Govt’s Scientific Adviser

Mumbai: The Center’s principal scientific advisor, Vijayaraghavan said on Friday that strong measures are needed to avoid the third wave of coronavirus pandemic in the country.

“If we take strong measures, the third wave may not happen in all the places or indeed anywhere at all. It depends much on how effectively the guidance is implemented at the local level, in the states, in districts and in the cities everywhere,” he said.

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It may not take place at all if precautions are taken. The pandemic has different peaks and falls across the country,” the expert said.

“Infections take place when a susceptible population is present,” Raghavan said.

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The “insidious, asymptomatic” transmission of the virus can be stopped, if the guidance on testing, treating, containing is followed, he said. “This sounds difficult, it is difficult but we can and must do it,” he added.

“The frequency and size of these fluctuations may be reduced because it is in our hands. Remember, asymptomatic people can also transmit infections. This is all the more reason why you should maintain social distancing and proper hygiene,” he said.

On Wednesday, Raghavan said a phase three of the pandemic is inevitable given the highest levels of the circulating virus, but its time scale is not clear.

Meanwhile, giving information about the COVID-19 situation in the country, Additional Secretary (Health) Aarti Ahuja said that there are more than one lakh active cases in 12 states, 50,000 to one lakh active cases in seven states, while 50,000 in 17 states Covid-19 cases are less active.

“Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar have a high caseload,” she said. Adding, “Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand are the states/UTs where cases were increasing earlier but are now plateauing gradually.”

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