Third wave of Covid inevitable, says AIIMS director

Even as the country hasn't completely recovered from the aftermaths of second wave of coronavirus, there's a third wave of the viral infection waiting just around the corner. While experts have warned against the third wave of coronavirus in few months, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria has states that an "inevitable" third wave could hit the country in next few weeks.

"As we have started unlocking, there is again a lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour. We don't seem to have learnt from what happened between the first and the second wave. Again crowds are building up… people are gathering. It will take some time for the number of cases to start rising at the national level. Third wave is inevitable and it could hit the country within the next six to eight weeks… may be a little longer," Dr Guleria said. "It all depends on how we go ahead in terms of Covid-appropriate behaviour and preventing crowds," he told NDTV.

"That (vaccination) is the main challenge. A new wave can usually take up to three months but it can also take much lesser time, depending on various factors. Apart from Covid-appropriate behaviour, we need to ensure strict surveillance. Last time, we saw a new variant - which came from outside and developed here - led to the huge surge in the number of cases. We know the virus will continue to mutate. Aggressive surveillance in hotspots is required," the AIIMS chief said.

He also said that vaccination is a major step in combating the virus and said that everyone should take the jab at earliest. Talking about the gap between two doses of Covishield, he said the decision doesn't come with any harmful effects.

"Mini-lockdown in any part of the country, which witnesses a surge and a rise in positivity rate beyond 5 percent will be required. Unless we're vaccinated, we're vulnerable in the coming months," he said.