Officials, however, said an increase in hospitalisation and deaths is unlikely. Though cases of Covid-19 continue to be low in the country, experts assert that vaccination will remain a key preventive tool till it becomes an endemic infection.
u201cPreviously, it has been noticed that a new Covid wave hits India around 30-35 days after it hits East Asia. Typically, it has been China, parts of Asia, Europe, the USA and then India. At least two-to-three previous waves of Covid have followed the pattern. So, the next 40 days could lead to some surge in infections,u201d the official said.Reports suggest that the BF.7 strain was found in some samples in India since July. So far, some four-odd people have been detected with the strain that has caused a fresh spurt of infections in China. The strain is considered to be a highly transmissible one where one infected person can further infect 16.u201cSo far India has witnessed 220 virus variants including recombinant one; and just because the BF.7 strain has not caused a surge earlier, we canu2019t expect a similar pattern to continue. Behavioural patterns change over time,u201d the official said.
Image source- Google.comThe Ministry is likely to make mandatory, from next week, negative RT-PCR reports for passengers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and ThailandFilling up of u2018air-suvidhau2019 forms and 72-hour prior RT-PCR testing could be mandatory for arrivals from these countries.Some 39-odd international passengers have been found positive for Covid out of the 6,000-odd tests being carried out over the last two days.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya have held meetings to assess the country’s preparedness to deal with a fresh surge in cases. There is no reason to worry just getting your booster doses and keeping your mental health sound will do wonders for everyone.
