We're ready for the third wave of COVID-19: Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Heeding the warning shot from the medical fraternity, including the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) chief that the third wave of the COVID-19 is going to affect children the most, the State Health Department is ready to face any eventuality.

Talking to the media here on Sunday, State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said, "We're ready for the third wave of the COVID-19. Since the third wave is likely to affect children the worst, we've equipped each of our hospitals with ICU beds for children.

"We've been preparing for the third wave of the COVID-19 since May. The massive vaccination drive that is going to start from Monday is part of that preparation. We are oxygen surplus now. We have an adequate number of ICU beds as well. New ICU beds are being installed in every district hospital.

"Barring a few districts, the second wave of the pandemic has been brought well under control. If the situation doesn't improve in a few districts like Nagaon, Sonitpur etc, we've no way out but to enforce total lockdown there."

AIIMS chief Dr. Randeep Gulerie and many other medical experts said that the third wave of the COVID-19 is inevitable in India by October this year.

According to Health Department sources, even though experts say that children will be the vulnerable section in the third wave of the pandemic, there is little evidence or indication that only children will be affected. It is just an assumption. Since people below 18 years of age haven't been vaccinated, they may be vulnerable in the third wave of the pandemic. How severe the impact of the third wave on children cannot be ascertained now. The sources also said that it is highly unlikely that the third wave will predominantly or exclusively affect children.

According to experts, the third wave may affect children in thickly populated urban areas.

Sources in the Directorate of Health Services, Assam said that according to a national-level study the seropositivity rate is high among children comparable to the adult population. Sero-positivity means having enough anti-bodies to combat viral infections, and as such the children may not be as vulnerable as predicted.

Since the second wave is on the wane people are in a relaxed mode, and that may invite the third wave soon, sources said.

Sources in the department also said that in the ongoing door-to-door ACSP (Assam Community Surveillance Programme) many people below 18 years of age have been detected positive for the COVID-19, and that has helped the department to get ready for the third wave.

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