Unless the situation changes much, the third wave of Covid-19 infections will become a “hill if the second wave were a steep mountain,” Professor Gagandeep Kang told India Today. India’s leading microbiologist and virologist Kang made the statement in response to a question about the third wave.
She also said that you can’t predict that Third wave of Covid-19 infections. No one can predict whether the virus will continue to mutate and become more dangerous, she added.
When asked about Kerala’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in recent weeks, Gagandeep Kang said the criticism was “unfair”. The “Kerala Model” faces flak as social media users claim the Covid-19 resurgence in the state was due to the state government easing its vigilance.
While Professor Gagandeep Kang agreed that low vaccination rates and low seroprevalence should be reason enough for states, including Kerala, not to open up, he said Kerala had seen a surge in infection cases even before Bakr Eid.
Just last month that The Supreme Court had pulled up the Kerala government for allowing a three-day relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions ahead of the Bakr Eid Festival. The Apex Court had ordered Kerala “to respect Article 21 in conjunction with Article 144 of the Constitution” and to comply with the orders issued in the Kanwar Yatra case.
Keralities cannot afford to celebrate Onam: Kang
When asked how the state is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Professor Gagandeep Kang said Kerala, like any other state, is tired of the restrictions in place to contain the spread of Covid-19. There is also pressure from people to open up, “but this is not the time,” said Kang.
She added that the Keralites cannot afford to celebrate Onam like they used to. The people of Kerala need to remain vigilant about the virus, Kang said.
However, Professor Kang acknowledged the fact that Kerala had flattened the curve but lost due to the vaccination crisis. “The range of vaccines is limited,” she said.
“There is low seroprevalence (fewer antibodies in the population – about 44.5 percent according to the ICMR’s Fourth Sero Survey) because the state has protected its population well,” Gagandeep Kang told India Today.
When asked if Kerala pays a price for the good work it has done in terms of accurate reporting of cases and deaths and vaccination rates, Professor Kang replied, “Yes it is.”
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