‘Third wave knocking at the door, but may not be severe’

‘Third wave knocking at the door, but may not be severe’

Amarjeet.Singh1@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:12.09.2021

The number of active Covid-19 patients in Madhya Pradesh has increased by more than 38% in the 11 days of September, leading experts to warn that the third wave may be around the corner. However, it may not be as severe as the second one, they feel.

There were 83 active patients in the state on September 1, which has now increased to 136. The numbers seem low, fueled mainly by a spurt in Jabalpur, but the trend is worrying.

“Given the recent rise, it could be the beginning of the third wave. Unless there is 100% vaccination, there will always be the possibility of another wave,” AIIMS-Bhopal director Dr Sarman Singh told TOI.

‘Covid-appropriate behaviour way out’

It may still happen, despite 100% vaccination, but even if a vaccinated patient gets infected, the symptoms will not be severe. Covid-appropriate behavior – wearing face masks and maintaining social distance – is the only way out,” Dr Sarman Singh told TOI. There has been one death this month, and four since August 1. On the positive side, 45 districts are not reporting new cases, and the recent cases are confined mostly to Jabalpur, Bhopal and Indore. Jabalpur is causing concern because it accounts for 56 (41%) of the state’s 136 active patients. On Saturday, it had half of MP’s 16 new cases.

Asked why cases are being reported from a few pockets only, Singh said, “Even during the second wave, there were several villages and pockets that had remained out of the purview of Covid-19 infection. Thus, this spurt could definitely be considered the start of the third wave”. “But we can say that this time, the infection will probably not be as severe, unless a new version of the virus is there,” Dr Singh added. TNN