Bhubaneswar: The third wave of the Covid -19 pandemic can well be predicted before its arrival in Odisha even as the Covid graph is currently showing a downward trend, Director, Health services Director Dr Bijay Moahapatra said on Friday.
He said the second wave had first hit Delhi and Mumbai before sweeping Odisha.
Even the effects of the first wave was felt in Odisha late. It was first felt in Delhi, Mumbai." So, naturally, we can well predict the arrival of third wave. We have to be cautious and prepared,"he added.
The infection in the State is now stable. Sometimes, it is fluctuating. The districts registering the maximum cases are on top focus, he added.
Speaking on the vaccine efficacy, he said that the inoculation is certainly giving protection against the virus to a large extent.
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“The data on 274 vaccinated people conducted by the ICMR had been obtained. It is found that a small a number of people were infected post-vaccination. There was no severity,” Mohapatra added.
More studies are in progress to find out a comprehensive data. But, one thing is clear that the vaccine is creating antibody against Covid-19 and giving protection, he maintained.
Health expert Chandan Dash said “though the arrival of the third wave can be speculated, it is hard to predict the particular timings. A sudden rise in the daily cases might be a sign of third wave, but it is generally termed as a part of the second wave.”
Third wave is imminent given the fact regarding the mutation of the virus. Multiple waves had been seen in every pandemic that had hit the country in past, he said.
During the outbreak of Spanish Flu in 1918, the third wave had a little impact.
“As experts havr predicted the arrival of third wave of Covid in September, we have to be extra caution with following the Covid appropriate behaviours. People can’t be kept under a complete lockdown for a long period, but lockdown with some sort of relaxation needs to be there,” Dash maintained.
Besides, testing and tracking should continue till the end of the pandemic, he added.