COVID-19 Mutation, Vaccination Will Determine Intensity Of 3rd Wave In Odisha: ILS

Bhubaneswar: The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar, on Monday said that the intensity of the third wave of COVID-19 in Odisha will depend on the new mutants of the virus and vaccination.

“As the epidemiologists have given very clear indications that the third wave of COVID-19 is inevitable, we have to remain alert from now. The third wave of the virus will not only infect the children but also people of all age groups,” ILS director Ajay Parida told the media here.

The new mutants of the virus and the vaccination will determine the intensity of the third wave, he added.

Parida said that the decision of the state government to clamp a statewide lockdown has considerably brought down the TPR.

While the daily caseload in the state in the last 2-3 days has dropped below 5000, the test positivity rate (TPR) is below 5 per cent in 13 districts – Deogarh (4.7), Sundargarh (1.9), Sambalpur (1.9), Jharsuguda (1.4), Bargarh (4.3), Sonepur (3.7), Balangir (3.1), Nuapada (2.5), Kandhamal (3.5), Kalahandi (3.9), Ganjam (1.5), Gajapati (2.5) and Kendrapada (4.7), he said.

However, the TRP has remained 10 per cent and above in nine districts – Jajpur (20.8), Cuttack (10.7), Khurda (11.4), Puri (14.2), Boudh (11.6), Nayagarh (10.1), Dhenkanal (11.5), Keonjhar (11.5) and Rayagada (10).

“If the government decides to initiate the unlock process, people have to strictly adhere to the COVID appropriate behaviour else the rate of infection will go up again,” he added.