India

Are We Heading For Another COVID-19 Wave? What Can We Do About It?

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: With the latest numbers showing a four-time increase in COVID-19 cases, the big question is, are we facing a third wave? If yes, what are we doing or can do about it?

First things first, the principles of dealing with COVID-19 remain the same – masking and vaccinations.

  • Masking continues to remain an effective measure for the prevention of COVID-19.
  • Making indoor spaces well-ventilated also makes a lot of difference in infection rates. Allowing outdoor air to come in can make transmission less likely.
  • WHO has recommended portable standalone air filtration units with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters for places where due to prior building restrictions or other reasons increasing outdoor ventilation is not possible.
  • With 75% of the population vaccinated with at least one dose, 66% vaccinated with both the doses and only 3% with the booster dose, the government should push for more vaccinations and make it easier for the people to get vaccinated.
  • There should be a sustained information and education campaign making the booster free for all since the protection provided by the doses wanes over time and the gap between doses should be six months.
  • Around 5% of all RT-PCR tests should undergo Genome Sequencing so that we know if there are concerning mutations that are present in the samples. This information will help in getting an early warning in case of a variant with dangerous mutations and help us be better prepared for that.

 

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Former Salepur MLA Prakash Behera Quits BJP Ahead Of Odisha Elections

Bhubaneswar: Former Salepur MLA and BJP Cuttack district president Prakash Chandra Behera quit the saffron…

March 29, 2024

Man Stabs Brother-In-Law To Death In Odisha’s Sundargarh

Sundargarh: Police arrested a man for allegedly killing his brother-in-law for torturing his sister in…

March 28, 2024

Heavyweight Collaboration: In A First, Reliance Picks Up 26% Stake In Adani Power Project

Mumbai: This is what you call a heavyweight collaboration. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between rival…

March 28, 2024

PDS Queues Longer, Market Price Of Rice Higher As Kashmir Ditches Paddy For Apple Crop, Urbanisation

Mohammad Aatif Ammad Kanth Anantnag (Jammu & Kashmir): On a chilly winter morning, Irshad Bhat…

March 28, 2024

Odisha Polls: Former Chitrakonda MLA Dambaru Sisa Resigns From BJD

Bhubaneswar: The former MLA of BJD from Chitrakonda in Odisha's Malkangiri district, Dambaru Sisa, on…

March 28, 2024

LS Polls: JMM Nominates Anjani Soren For Odisha’s Mayurbhanj Seat

Bhubaneswar: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has announced Anjani Soren as its candidate for Lok…

March 28, 2024

IESA Signs MoU With Bhubaneswar’s BCKIC To Work In Critical Minerals & Energy Sector

Bhubaneswar: India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bhubaneswar City Knowledge…

March 28, 2024

Vigilance Nabs OSD In Odisha’s Nuapada Collectorate While Taking Bribe Of Rs 30,000

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance on Thursday apprehended an officer in the collectorate of Nuapada district while…

March 28, 2024