Dharamshala, 22nd June: While several scientists have warned that a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic might strike India in the next months, AIIMS head Dr. Randeep Guleria has claimed that the third wave is “inevitable” and could strike in the next six to eight weeks. Despite the fact that India’s COVID-19 caseload has been on the decline since a disastrous second wave’ between April and mid-June, with states resuming normal operations after weeks of stringent lockdown restrictions, a probable ‘third wave’ of infections has entered the scientific and popular conversation. Following the relaxation of limitations across India, there is a shortage of COVID-appropriate behavior, according to Guleria, who said that the country’s biggest challenge is vaccinating a large population.
Guleria’s comments come amid a public and scientific debate about the possibility of a third wave and how it would affect India. Several state governments have already begun planning for the next wave of COVID-19 infections, and they are frequently urging the public and authorities to adopt COVID-19 measures. Guleria’s comments come barely two days after Maharashtra’s COVID task team warned that the third wave might impact Mumbai in the next two to four weeks.
The AIIMS director explained that India’s current key difficulty is vaccinating a large population and that increasing Covishield dose intervals “may not be a bad” way to provide protection to more people. Several thoughts and predictions have surfaced in recent weeks about how a possible “third wave” could disproportionately or severely affect youngsters. Authorities and medical experts, on the other hand, continue to have opposing viewpoints. Even doctors appear to differ from one another.
Image source: india.com