3rd wave of Covid-19 likely to peak in February: Odisha Health Director

Bhubaneswar: The third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to peak in February, 2022, said Director of Health Services, Odisha Bijay Mohapatra. The first and second waves of the deadly virus in Odisha were reportedly two months late as compared to other states in the country, he said.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the third wave of Covid-19 is likely to affect Odisha in February and take a peak by end of the month.

The Health Department has focused on surveillance, testing, treatment, and vaccination of the people across the State.

The health infrastructure is being prepared as per the instructions of the government. The pediatric ward, oxygen, and medicine are being made fully available, added Mohapatra.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed State officials to finish all the arrangements on a war-footing basis to tackle any eventuality in the wake of a surge in Omicron cases. He also instructed officials to reactivate all protocols which were followed during the second wave of Covid and keep the Covid facilities and personnel on high alert.

Earlier Mohapatra had said that the effect of the Omicron variant of Covid may not be severe. He further said that Omicron strain is expected to be less severe and this has been proved through two studies.

But as a word of caution, he added that “we all have to remain alert like earlier and we have to emphasize on controlling large gatherings and crowding”.

It is noteworthy that eight cases of Covid Omicron positives have been detected in Odisha. However, the first Omicron detected patient recovered at a private hospital in Cuttack on Monday and has been discharged. He is a resident of Jagatsinghpur and has a travel history to Nigeria.

On the other hand, the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India may peak by February 3, 2022, claims a modeling study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. However, the forecast is based on the assumption that the country will follow the trends of rising in cases seen in many countries globally driven by the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Also read: Odisha: Effect Of Omicron Not Severe, Bijay Mohapatra