Third Covid wave may strike Karnataka in October, hit young: Panel

BENGALURU: Even as Karnataka grapples with the second wave of Covid-19, an analysis by the Technical Advisory Committee said the state is likely to face the third wave of infections in October-November 2021.


The second wave will flatten by July after peaking in May only to recur by October 2021.

According to TAC chief Dr MK Sudarshan, the younger population would be affected the most by the third wave as they would be unvaccinated. “Fully vaccinated senior citizens would be safe by then. Those below 18 years would be most vulnerable,” he said.

“After each wave flattens, we have seen a resurgence in other countries too. It’ll take 90-120 days after the wave flattens for the virus resurgence,” said Dr CN Manjunath, head, Covid-19 expert committee and nodal officer for

Covid

testing in the state.

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Karnataka’s experience, and that of European countries, shows that the third wave will be definitely there and preparation to tackle it must be taken seriously, say experts. Covid-appropriate behaviour like mask usage, maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowds and hand hygiene, apart from vaccination, must be given utmost priority, they say.



According to Dr Manjunath, all precautionary measures, restrictions on gatherings, religious events, political rallies, local body elections and fairs must be continued till December 2021. “The severity will be more in unvaccinated persons. The need is to speed up vaccination,” he said.



He agreed with Dr Sudarshan that children would be more vulnerable. “There are trials of Pfizer vaccines on children. By then, we may get vaccines for children too,” he said.

According to Dr KR Bharath Kumar Reddy, paediatric pulmonologist and director, Shishuka Children’s Specialty Hospital, children would be vulnerable because of lack of vaccination. “However, the virus transmission chain may break as adults at home would be vaccinated and they may not spread to kids. Currently, in most cases, adults are transmitting to children who are not going to schools,” Dr Reddy said.

Unless those in the 18-44 years category are vaccinated by October, a high number of cases will be seen among them too, experts said.