‘More Indians have Covid immunity’

New Delhi, July 25: While a large number of people now have immunity against coronavirus due to previous infections or vaccination, a guarded approach is needed in terms of implementing restrictive measures to avoid a second wave-like crisis, experts said.

Dr Yudhyavir Singh, who has been managing the Covid-19 ICU at AIIMS New Delhi, said it is important to lift a few restrictions to resume economic activities when cases are low.

“However, one should not lower their guard. Adopt a guarded approach in terms of following Covid-appropriate

behaviour and implementing restrictive measures,” he said.

He said Delhi may have already achieved herd immunity, considering the massive number of cases seen during the second wave.

However, Dr Pooja Khosla, senior consultant (department of medicine), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the second wave of the coronavirus has taught us that cases can increase suddenly.

“There are warning signs from different parts of the world. In India too, a small increase in cases has been recorded. Infections can increase exponentially anytime,” she said.

Pragya Sharma, professor, department of community medicine, at the Maulana Azad Medical College, said a third wave is a certain thing but the number of people it will infect will depend on the implementation of preventive measures and the pace of vaccination.

Sharma thinks the implementation of preventive and restrictive measures is an issue. “People either don’t wear mask or don’t wear it properly. Most of them use cloth mask, which doesn’t serve any purpose. There is hardly any vigil being maintained in crowded areas,” she said.

After a devastating second wave of the coronavirus, people had started taking vaccination seriously. But things have changed again. There is laxity on the part of the people, Dr Sharma said.

In India too, a small increase in cases has been recorded. Infections can increase exponentially anytime. I think one should not assume anything and make all efforts to prevent a second wave-like crisis, which was a nightmare

— DR. POOJA KHOSLA

Senior consultant