Covid-19 third wave likely to hit by August-end: ICMR

Dr Samiran Panda, Head of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research, has made keynote remarks on the third phase of the Coronavirus pandemic. He said the third phase is likely to hit the country in late August but revealed it will not be as intense as the second wave.

Dr Panda told an English daily four important things on this occasion. If the immune system is weakened during the first and second stages, it can lead to third-wave proliferation.

This may be due to the emergence of a new variant that goes beyond the current immunity in the people. Panda also said that although the new variant is immune, two factors can cause a third wave, such as a rapidly expanding symptom. And fourthly, if states lift pandemic guidelines and sanctions in advance, it could lead to an increase in cases again, Dr Panda said. Both Delta and Delta Plus have already hit the country, so the Delta variant is unlikely to pose a threat.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has already said that a third wave is inevitable. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom also warned that the third phase of Covid-19 was in the early stages through the expansion of the Delta variant. It is said to be found in over 111 countries.