Vaccination, Covid-Appropriate Behaviour Can Delay 3rd Wave: AIIMS Chief

India Coronavirus Cases: "There is no clarity on the timeline of the third wave. We will see as increase in the number of cases in the near future," AIIMS Chief Dr Randeep Guleria said.

A third Covid wave in India can be delayed and it may be less severe than the first two waves if Covid-appropriate behaviour is followed and the pace of vaccination is increased, AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria told NDTV this morning. A shortage of hospital beds and medical supplies in the country at the peak of second wave had caught global attention. While the daily cases have dropped, a spike in future may be inevitable, Dr Guleria agreed, as he referred to the fourth sero survey released earlier this week. About 40 crore people in the country are still vulnerable, the sero survey showed, highlighting that about 67 per cent of India's population has developed antibodies. "Covid-appropriate behaviour and surveillance are two ways to check the spread of virus," the AIIMS chief said. "There is no clarity on the timeline of the third wave. We will see as increase in the number of cases in the near future. What is, however, important is how we behave. If people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and as more and more people are vaccinated, the third wave could be delayed. It could also have lesser impact than the second or first wave," he underlined.