Third wave of Covid inevitable, warns IMA, tells states that pilgrimage, tourism can wait

The Indian Medical Association on Monday cautioned the central and state governments that the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic was inevitable and imminent, reported NDTV. The doctors’ association said that “tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour” can wait as the entire population should follow Covid protocols for at least three more months.

“Opening up these rituals and enabling people without vaccination to go scot-free in these mass gatherings are potential super spreaders for the Covid third wave,” the association said in a statement. “However, it is painful to note…in many parts of the country both [the] government and public are complacent and engaged in mass gatherings without following Covid protocols.”

The doctors’ association also noted that India has just emerged out of the second wave of the pandemic and attributed a part of that achievement to the “dedicated altruistic services of modern medical fraternity”.

“But the past experience of last one and half years with the virus and based on the emerging evidences it is obvious with making the universal vaccination reach maximum possible population and strictly adopting to Covid appropriate behaviours we can face the third wave with confidence and mitigate its impact,” the association said.

Indian Medical Association appeals to governments not to let off the…

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