Sunday, 20 June 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
AIIMS director Dr Guleria calls for lockdown in areas with 5% positivity
At a time when India is still recovering from the horrors of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, AIIMS Chief Randeep Guleria has warned that third wave is inevitable in the next 6-8 weeks if people do not adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour.
However, the AIIMS Director was not in favour of “a national-level lockdown, saying that it “cannot be a solution” as it adversely affected the economy which is still reeling under restrictions imposed in the past few months during various phases of lockdown.
“Until a sizeable number of people are vaccinated, everyone must strictly follow Covid-appropriate behaviour such as wearing of masks and social distancing,” he said. Advising the authorities that the moment the positivity rate goes beyond 5 per cent, area-specific lockdown and containment measures should be implemented.
His caution comes amid easing of lockdown restrictions in various parts of the country with people moving out on streets and roads in hoards ignoring all Covid appropriate norms. There have been photographs and videos on various media showing crowds thronging the markets and public places with no masks or casually tied on mouth with no social distancing behaviour being followed, all ideal conditions for the coronavirus to spread like a fire.
“As we have started unlocking, there is again a lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour. We don’t seem to have learnt from what happened between the first and the second wave. Again crowds are building up… people are gathering. It will take some time for the number of cases to start rising at the national level. Third wave is inevitable and it could hit the country within the next six to eight weeks,” Dr Guleria said. “It all depends on how we go ahead in terms of Covid-appropriate behaviour and preventing crowds,” he added.
According to him, the virus can make a comeback within two months, earlier than the trend noticed in India so far, if the unlocking process is not measured.
“If Covid-appropriate behaviour is not followed, the third wave can happen in six to eight weeks. We need to work aggressively to prevent another large wave till vaccination kicks in,” Guleria said amidst the backdrop of poor vaccination coverage.
So far, India has fully vaccinated only about 5 per cent of its estimated 950 million eligible population, leaving many millions vulnerable to infections and deaths.
The AIIMS chief also stressed on the need for stricter surveillance and area-specific lockdowns in case of a significant surge in cases.
“There needs to be an aggressive surveillance strategy in Covid hotspots and lockdowns in case of any significant surge. The moment a significant surge in cases is noted in a particular area and the positivity rate goes beyond 5 per cent, area-specific lockdown and containment measures should be implemented,” he said.
