AIIMS doctor urges people to be careful for 1-2 years
What's the story
A professor at the medicine department of the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has urged people to practice caution for at least the next couple of years, so that COVID-19 does not explode again. Further, Dr. Neeraj Nischal asked people to not get swayed by the festive season. He noted that ripples of the second wave can still be seen.
Quote
'Festivals are to share happiness, not COVID-19'
Dr. Nischal said, "The idea of festivals is to share happiness, not COVID-19. For the next one to two years, till the pandemic is not under control, we should not become part of the reason for causing the pandemic to explode again."
Experts
Crowded places, religious gatherings can become epicenters: Experts
Dr. Nischal's warning resonates with other health experts who have raised similar concerns recently. On Sunday, government experts had urged people to maintain COVID-19 appropriate behavior for the next 125 crucial days to minimize the effect of the infection. It was also asserted that if crowded public places and large-scale religious gatherings are not restricted, they can become potential epicenters.
Experts
'Lack of COVID-19 appropriate behavior resulted in unprecedented second wave'
Meanwhile, Dr. Arvind Kumar of the Fortis Hospital said the second wave "spread like wildfire" in the country because people did not follow COVID-19 appropriate behavior, and added, "It caused a lot of morbidity and mortality." Experts have been advising people to maintain six-feet distance and wear masks in public places among other COVID-19 appropriate behavior to stop the spread of the virus.
Government
COVID-19 cases 'slowly declining'; government warns of third wave
While India's COVID-19 cases are declining slowly, the government has repeatedly warned that a third wave is imminent. "It's a warning signal...the next 100-125 days are critical for the fight against COVID-19," said NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul. Separately, Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal noted that the trend of wearing masks is declining in the country.
Third Wave
Fear of third wave looming large: Experts
Apart from the government, health experts have also warned that a third wave of infections may hit the country soon. Last week, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) also warned that a third wave is "imminent" and urged people not to let their guards down. A report by SBI Research suggested that the number of COVID-19 cases may start rising from August.