Too Early To Link Delta Plus & 3rd Wave, Says Scientist; Maharashtra Prepares For 50 Lakh Cases

As the number of COVID-19 cases with Delta Plus strain of the virus is increasing there is a growing worry that the highly transmissible variant could cause the third wave of the pandemic in India.

The mutant version of the Delta strain of COVID-19 first detected in India and labelled as a "variant of concern" by the Centre is posing multiple challenges to the country due to its ability to spread fast and fears that the existing vaccines may not be effective against it.

Reuters

This variant has been formed due to a mutation in the Delta or B.1.617.2 variant.

Too early to say it will cause 3rd wave

But according to Dr Sumit Aggarwal, Scientist and Program officer, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable disease, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) it is too early to say if Delta Plus will cause the third wave in India.

"There is no concern now for the third wave and its too early to predict the third wave, the third wave depends on many other factors," Dr Aggarwal told ANI.

AFP

He also said that in future more mutations can be seen as it is normal for every mRNA virus to mutate.

"So, now in future we may see more mutations. Yes, definitely it's a new virus and MoHFW has also released a statement that this is a virus of concern because this is a new variant and we have started the studies.

Maharashtra already preparing for it

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, the worst-hit state in India in both the first wave and the second wave is gearing up for the third wave, which could happen in a matter of weeks.

Maharashtra¡¯s public health department has estimated that in the event of a third Covid wave, the state will record approximately 50 lakh cases, of which 25 lakh will rely on government-run medical facilities or Covid care centres.

AFP

Keeping this in mind, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday set a target of producing 3,000 tonnes per day liquid medical oxygen.

Currently, the state's LMO production is barely 1,300 tonnes daily and he called upon the oxygen manufacturers to hike their oxygen production and storage facilities on a priority basis.

The CM said that during the second wave, the demand for LMO had increased tremendously, and despite a respite, in some districts the number of Covid-19 patients is still high.

BCCL

"A third wave of Covid-19 is expected. A new variant of the coronavirus has been detected. But we do not know its lethality. Given the potential risks, it is important to make ourselves self-sufficient in oxygen while we still have the time to make preparations," Thackeray urged.

Though the number of daily infections has remained below 10,000 in recent days there has been a slight, but noticeable increase in new cases in Maharashtra.