Second COVID-19 wave declining, third can be prevented, says scientific advisor

India can keep away from a third COVID wave, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India K. Vijay Raghavan mentioned on Friday, stressing that, “If we take strong measures, the third COVID wave may not happen in all the places or indeed anywhere.”

Dr. Vijay Raghavan’s assertion comes simply two days after he mentioned, “Third COVID wave is inevitable in India given the high levels of virus that is circulating. But it is not clear at what time scale this Phase 3 will occur.”

Speaking at a Health Ministry press convention, Dr. Vijay Raghavan mentioned stopping a third wave relies on how successfully the rules are applied and adopted. “Infections rise when the virus has the opportunity to infect humans,” he added.

Responding to a query on when the second wave which has already contaminated lakhs and killed 1000’s, will ebb, Dr. VijayRaghavan mentioned it has already began declining in some locations. The variety of circumstances and the positivity will decline and there’ll be a lag in hospitalisation and mortality, he added.

Cautioning in opposition to the misuse of steroids and stressing the necessity to adhere to the remedy plan prescribed by docs, NITI Aayog member V.K. Paul mentioned individuals displaying signs — fever, headache, physique ache, sore throat, breathlessness and many others — ought to take into account themselves COVID optimistic until examined in any other case and strictly comply with COVID isolation and remedy tips.

“Use of Remdesivir at home is a big no and oxygen should be used for patients at home under medical guidance. Secondary infections, thrombosis/stroke and adverse effect on lungs are all matters of concern post-COVID,” he mentioned.

Replying to a query on India approving extra COVID vaccines, Dr Paul mentioned all new vaccines would be allowed in solely after they clear the regulatory course of.

“Both Sputnik Light and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are promising candidates and can help in hastening the vaccination cover in our population but their clearance will be based on the vaccines’ scientific merit,” he added.

Meanwhile the Health Ministry famous that it has now suggested State governments to prioritize due beneficiaries of the second dose for COVID vaccine and guarantee well timed completion of the really useful vaccination schedule.

“State governments have been told to utilise supplies of vaccines in a 70:30 ratio for 2nd dose and 1st dose respectively. Regular review of coverage of COVID-19 vaccination drive should be undertaken to formulate and implement a strategy for such prioritization and an effective communication strategy must be implemented for full two dose protection to all priority beneficiary groups,” mentioned the Health Ministry.

The Ministry added that it has reviewed the COVID-19 state of affairs and administration with eight States — Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

“While Maharashtra, U.P., Delhi and Rajasthan are among the areas showing continued plateauing /decrease in daily new cases, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, A.P., Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha are States where daily new COVID cases are rising,” the Ministry mentioned.

It added that the latest evaluation by the Health Ministry targeted on containment methods, testing infrastructure and healthcare infrastructure augmentation, availability of skilled human useful resource, availability and provide of medical oxygen, ventilators and different logistics and bettering the vaccination protection.