Of the latest projections regarding the time of arrival of the 3^rd Covid wave in India, a Central government panel working on modelling of Covid-19 cases has predicted that it might hit the peak in October-November. Apart from this, a report published by SBI Research says that the 3^rd wave may hit in August and peak in September. But among the various factors that have been analysed in the arrival of these projections, the most important one seems to be the nagging habit of rampant flouting of Covid SOPs that is also going to be a prime reason for this chapter of the spread. Theoretically speaking, with cases and casualties dipping to new lows, there are perceptible signs that on an overall basis the 2^nd wave is on the retreat. However, with more and more studies showing that it’s just a matter of months’ hiatus after which the new battle will commence, it's obligatory on part of government(s) and citizens alike to maintain the alert mode. Arunachal Pradesh meanwhile is still not in a comfortable position particularly due to the daily new caseloads outnumbering the recoveries. As such, a high-alert in the state must remain, irrespective of the exact month of arrival of the 3^rd wave.

So far as the 2^nd wave is concerned, past week’s data and that of Tuesday’s in particular will mark a rerun of the last November middle-December scenario. On Tuesday morning, the Health Ministry’s website showed that 34,703 new cases were added during the preceding 24 hours which is the lowest count in the last 111 days and 553 casualties were also the lowest in the previous 91 days.  The ‘reductions’, however, has been interpreted in different ways by the people. While for many it’s an encouragement to stick to the guards so that a complete respite is quickened, many citizens have taken it as the passport to return back to the pre-Covid days. Recently a photo showing a huge crowd of tourists holidaying in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali caring little for Covid protective protocols that went viral has sent an alarm all over the country. Super-spreader events of this kind had been a major reason for the rise of the 2^nd wave and it took only a few months to forget them altogether. While there might be various versions regarding the arrival, it’s certain that the 3^rd wave in India can’t be checked. The caveat that if a new variant (of the Delta family probably) emerges which will result in a faster spread during the 3rd wave, must be kept in mind.

Along with vaccination, all Covid precautions will thus remain the constant determinant for the results of the upcoming battle.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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