Omicron led-third COVID wave likely to hit India in early 2022: Expert

Amid surge of Omicron cases in India, members of National COVID-19 Supermodel Committee informed that caselo in country is likely to increase furr, predicting a thirdwave in early 2022. On Saturday, India recorded 7,145 new COVID-19 cases. 

One of hes of Committee named Vidyasagar said that India will have a third wave of COVID but it will be milder than second wave. Speaking to ANI, he informed, "Third wave is likely to arrive early next year in India. It should be milder than second wave due to a large-scale immunity present in country now. re will definitely be a third wave. Right now, we are at around 7,500 cases per day which is sure to go up once Omicron starts displacing Delta as dominant variant."

He also mentioned it is unlikely that third wave will see more daily cases than second wave as Centre h started vaccinating ordinary Indians only starting March 1, which was just about time when  Delta variant h hit country, having an impact on 100% vaccine-naive population, except frontline workers.  third wave will not see as many as daily cases as second wave as now capacity now has been built up based on earlier expiriences, he ded. 

COVID-19 cases in India 

Meanwhile, in last 24 hours, India has recorded 7,145 new COVID-19 cases, down 4.1% from yesterday's figures. With se new cases, total number of Coronavirus cases in country now stands at 3,47,33,194. Meanwhile, 289 people have died as a result of COVID-19 illness in last 24 hours, bringing total number of people infected in country to 4,77,158, according to data issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare early Saturday. Kerala h most casualties (243), followed by Maharashtra, which logged 12 deaths. Kerala les with 3,471 cases, followed by Maharashtra at 902, Tamil Nu with 621 cases, West Bengal at 580 cases, and Karnataka with 238 cases. se five states accounted for 81.34% of all new cases, with Kerala alone accounting for 48.58% of all new cases.

(With Agency Inputs)

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