India is now preparing for a potential third wave, as a result of increased infection and major events ahead of the 2022 election, writes the American news company CNN.
On Wednesday, India registered nearly 800 omicron cases, which is a tripling from the week before. At the same time, the total number of corona infections has increased to 9,195 daily registered infections. This is an increase of 44 percent from the day before, according to the news channel Al-Jazeera.
In several countries, the omicron variant has spread faster than the previous variants, and several Indian health experts are now nervous about the development in the country with 1.3 billion people.
Sore doubts about American strategy
– If we see the same pattern in India as in the UK, and we compare the population in both countries, then 80,000 daily cases in the UK will mean around 1.4 million daily infections in India, says leader of the country’s corona working group, VK Paul , during a press conference.
It is also reported that the actual infection rates of omicron are likely to be higher than the official figures, due to insufficient testing.
The country is now preparing for a wave of omicron infections.
PREPARATIONS: Here, health professionals are preparing for the reception of covid-19 patients at an indoor sports stadium in New Delgi on Wednesday, the day after the government in the country asked the state to prepare for an increase in omicron infection. Photo: Altaf Qadri / AP / NTB
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India has so far vaccinated about 42 percent of the population, which makes up 577 million people, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
From January, the country will start vaccinating children aged 15-18, as well as distributing booster doses to priority groups such as health professionals and the elderly.
But the risk of rapid spread of the omicron variant increases as many of the inhabitants have now stopped wearing bandages, test themselves less frequently and gather in large crowds.
Moral collapse
Increase in infection in the big cities
Data from other countries indicate that the omicron variant causes milder disease than delta, especially among fully vaccinated. Therefore, fewer hospital admissions are expected as a result of omicron infection. However, due to the high population, there will still be some admissions in India.
In the last month, infection rates in India have remained between 6,000 and 9,000 registered cases a day, but now several of the largest cities are noticing an increase.
Mumbai, the most populous city in India, has had between 600 and 800 daily cases in recent weeks. On Wednesday, infection rates jumped to 2,510 registered infected. The capital New Delhi also registered more than 900 cases on Wednesday, which is a sharp increase from the beginning of December.
– Very high risk
The capital New Delhi has had the highest omicron infection so far, and now bans large gatherings for Christmas and New Year. Several other states have also announced new restrictions, including a curfew at night and a vaccine ban for visitors to shops and restaurants.
– The infection has increased with the arrival of international flights, says the Minister of Health in Delhi, Satyendar Jain, according to Al-Jazeera.
The health minister in the state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located, says it is frightening to see the infection rates increase.
“If the infection increases further in Mumbai, we must consider introducing restrictions,” he told the Indian news agency ANI.
The Federal Department of Health warned last week of the first signs of increased infection rates, and researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology estimate that a third wave will occur in late winter or early spring.
Indian Minister of State Narendra Modi. Photo: SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP / NTB
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Crowds without face masks
Political parties are now traveling around the country to talk to the people ahead of the 2022 election. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also visited many of the electoral states.
In the last month, the Prime Minister has visited India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, seven times, which has led to large crowds.
On Thursday last week, several hundred thousand people showed up when Modi spoke in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and videos from the event show large crowds without face masks, which are close together, according to CNN.
On the same day, a Supreme Court judge in the state called on the Prime Minister to ban events, claiming that it is simply not possible to distance oneself from the large crowds. He even recommended postponing the election.
