A deadly second wave of the coronavirus has left people scrabbling for beds and oxygen as India witnessed a surge in COVID cases.
States have already begun preparations for the much-anticipated Covid-19 third wave. Earlier, the government’s top scientific adviser said a third wave of the coronavirus is “inevitable”.
“A phase three is inevitable, given the high levels of circulating virus, but it is not clear on what time scale this phase 3 will occur. Hopefully, incrementally, but we should prepare for new waves. Previous infections and vaccines will cause adaptive pressure on the virus for new kinds of changes which try to escape, and, therefore, we should be prepared, scientifically to take care of that,” said K Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific advisor, to the government of India.
States in India are gearing up for the 3rd wave
Maharashtra
Maharashtra remains the worst hit. City hospitals, including those under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), have begun preparations focused on the paediatric Covid-19 testing and treatment, Hindustan Times reported.
Karnataka
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa called an emergency meeting of ministers and officials on May 11 and said they have to start preparing for the third wave of the pandemic, without wasting any time.
Speaking at his residence he said a Task Force committee would be constituted to suggest strategies and remedial measures to combat the third wave.
Madhya Pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh government will set up 360 ICU beds for children in hospitals across the state as part of its preparations for the third wave of COVID-19, minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang said on Monday, the Tribune reported.