Ensure Daily Cases Remain Below 50,000-Mark: COVID Group Shares Estimates For Third Wave Preparations

Officials have estimated that during the third wave of COVID-19, 4 to 5 lakh cases can be reported daily.

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New Delhi: While the possibility of third Coronavirus wave hitting the country is being seriously brought up time and again, the team of officials preparing the country's COVID emergency strategy has told the Union government that the number of daily cases of coronavirus should not cross the 50 thousand-mark.

The team said that all steps need to be taken to prevent such a scenario. 

Officials have estimated that during the third wave of COVID-19, 4 to 5 lakh cases can be reported daily. In such a scenario, there is a need to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Apart from this, there is a need to ensure adequate medical equipment in the hospitals.

The COVID group said that during the third wave, at least 2 lakh more beds will be needed in the country. In this, Uttar Pradesh will be needed the most number of beds (33 thousand). Then Maharashtra may need a lot of beds (17,865), followed by Bihar (17,480), West Bengal (14,173), and Madhya Pradesh (12,026).

Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Luv Aggarwal has ensured that under the new COVID package, about 20 thousand new ICU beds will be readied. Out of this, 20 percent of beds will be pediatric beds. A pediatric unit will also be formed in every district.

Under this package, more than 8800 ambulances will be arranged separately. At present, the number of coronavirus active cases in the country remains more than four lakhs. A total of 4 lakh 8 thousand people are still infected with the coronavirus. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 3,13,32,000 people have been infected. Out of these, over 4,20,000 people have died. 

The COVID death rate in the country is 1.34 percent while the recovery rate is more than 97 percent. Active cases are 1.30 percent. India ranks seventh in the world in terms of active cases. India is at number two in terms of the total number of people infected. Whereas after America and Brazil, India has the highest number of COVID deaths.