India’s weekly covid infections have shot above 25,000, the highest in three months. The numbers are said to be 45% higher than past seven weeks. However, it is a relief that fatalities continue to remain low.
It’s clear that covid infections are making a comeback and have raised fears of a possible fourth wave in India. Two days ago, the Union health secretary wrote to five states — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu — advising them to closely monitor influenza-like conditions, covid-19 case clusters, and test samples of international passengers.
Maharashtra and Kerala account for 60% of the new covid infections
As for now, 10 Indian states are showing a rise in Covid cases. Among them, 60% of the new infections are from Maharashtra and Kerala alone. On Sunday, Maharashtra reported 1,494 new cases. Whereas Kerala, which has been clocking more than 1000 cases in the last five days, registered 1,544 infections on Saturday.
TN detects new omicron variants BA 4 and BA 5
In the neighboring Tamil Nadu, 105 people tested positive — 43 from Chennai alone. Health Minister of the state, Ma Subramaniam, said they detected new omicron variants BA 4 and BA 5 from samples they took from Chennai and adjoining districts. The health secretary added that those tested for the new omicron variants are doing fine, and authorities are tracking their contacts and monitoring their symptoms.
Now the big question is, will there be a fourth wave? Will Covid-related social restrictions make a comeback?
Professor Sanjay Rai of AIIMS Delhi said that the increase in cases does not matter. Only severity and death toll should be a matter of concern, which he said are unlikely.
If we take Delhi as an example, with new covid variants emerging, cases went up during April but declined soon after. And there weren’t severe cases of concern. So one possible scenario is the surge in cases might fall rapidly. As for now, the state governments are in a wait-and-watch mode. But they are also reviewing their preparedness to handle any rapid increase in hospitalization.
Image Source: PTI