Bhubaneswar: Apart from children, the anticipated third wave of COVID-19 may affect people of all age groups in the country, said Director of Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) Ajay Parida.
Speaking to Media here, Dr.Parida said that the COVID-19 third wave if breaks out in the country, it will be as deadliest as the second wave.
“Not just children, the possible third wave may hit others too,” Dr.Parida said.
However, the effects of the third wave depend on three aspects — vaccination, mutation of virus and adherence to COVID protocols, he said.
He said that Odisha Government has already initiated preparations to tackle possible outbreak of the third wave in the State.
On present COVID crisis in second wave of the pandemic, Parida said that the B1.617.2 strain of virus that has been found in India infecting 60% population. The same variant caused infections in Odisha too.
He said that the second wave was at its peak in Odisha between May 15 and 25. In districts like Khordha, Cuttack and Dhenkanal, the infection cases are higher but the positivity rate is expected to decline in the next 10 to 15 days.
On single-day COVID toll spike, he said that the situation in Odisha is better than national average.
“The fatalities are rising due to comorbidities in COVID patients. The negligence is one of the factors behind increase in COVID deaths in the State. In many cases, persons infected with the virus hide it from others and do not consult doctors to treat infection in early stage for which the severity takes place,” Dr.Parida said.