With the daily Covid caseload dropping below 1000-mark in the past few days, the overall situation in Odisha is likely to improve in coming days. However, the rise in infection among 0 to 18 years age group is certainly concerning at a time when the entire country is staring at a possible third wave of the pandemic.
CBK Mohanty, chief of the Directorate of Medical Education & Training (DMET) on Wednesday said if even a third wave breaks out, its impact will not be similar to that of the second wave. However, a lot will depend on several factors and so the government is taking all necessary precautions.
“Covid second wave was propelled much due to the Delta variants, so severity of the third wave will be less if there the virus does not mutate to other more contagious strains but if it does, its impact will be more,” explained Mohanty.
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According to the health official, various models are coming up with different predictions and projections about the Covid-19 third wave.
Some are predicting that the daily Covid infections could hover between 4 to 5 lakh in the country. Similarly, some others point that the possibility of a third wave of corona infections is now negligible.
IIT Kanpur’s mathematical 'model formula' is indicating that there would no impact of the third wave in Odisha.
“In the Kanpur model, it has taken into account various aspects including vaccination, community spread and other factors. In Odisha, it is projected that the daily infection cases may be around 2,000 by mid-October if the relaxations are relaxed. Similarly, if the virus mutates, the caseload will be around 5,000,” said Mohanty.
In Odisha, the present daily infections are around 1,000 mark and if restrictions continue there will be no further peak.
Bijay Panigrahi, Director of Health and Family Welfare said though IIT Kanpur study had predicted that the daily caseload in Odisha will fall below 1000 mark by July 15, it took time for the cases to come down as a result of which the pandemic second wave is witnessing a thick tail in the State.
Though it is being predicted that the impact of third wave will be less, we should not be complacent. Adequate focus is being given on surveillance and vaccination as well, said Panigrahi.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)