<p>A third wave of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is “inevitable” given the high level of circulation of the Sars-Cov-2 virus, the top scientific advisor to the government said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Addressing a press conference, Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan, however, said it is not clear on the time scale for the third wave and said that India needs to be prepared scientifically to deal with it.</p>.<p>“What scientists are doing is prepare a map in the laboratory of all possible changes which can happen in the virus and see how these changes can affect immune evasion and vaccine evasion so that we are better prepared, both theoretically and in the laboratory to deal with these changes,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/as-covid-19-rages-rural-india-gasps-for-breath-982582.html" target="_blank">As Covid-19 rages, rural India gasps for breath</a></strong></p>.<p>Raghavan also stressed on the need to update vaccines to deal with the new variants of the virus.</p>.<p>He said it is important that people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour as the virus-variants do not change their behaviour.</p>.<p>Raghavan said new emerging variants is one of the factors responsible for the scale and ferocity of the second Covid-19 wave in India.</p>.<p>“Immunity attained can fade away and someone who has been infected once can get re-infected. Decreased immunity and careless behaviour had driven the second wave,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/bots-can-now-help-you-find-covid-19-vaccine-availability-and-nearest-centre-982525.html" target="_blank">Bots can now help you find Covid-19 vaccine availability and nearest centre</a></strong></p>.<p>Raghavan said that the current surge in infections appeared to be because of the Indian “double mutant” variant and the spread of the UK variant has slowed down.</p>.<p>While Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat have recorded a dip in daily cases, states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab are showing an increasing trend.</p>.<p>“The rise in cases in cities like Bengaluru, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kanpur among others is alarming,” Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, told reporters.</p>.<p>He said an increase in deaths has been noticed with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana reporting more fatalities.</p>
<p>A third wave of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is “inevitable” given the high level of circulation of the Sars-Cov-2 virus, the top scientific advisor to the government said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Addressing a press conference, Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan, however, said it is not clear on the time scale for the third wave and said that India needs to be prepared scientifically to deal with it.</p>.<p>“What scientists are doing is prepare a map in the laboratory of all possible changes which can happen in the virus and see how these changes can affect immune evasion and vaccine evasion so that we are better prepared, both theoretically and in the laboratory to deal with these changes,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/as-covid-19-rages-rural-india-gasps-for-breath-982582.html" target="_blank">As Covid-19 rages, rural India gasps for breath</a></strong></p>.<p>Raghavan also stressed on the need to update vaccines to deal with the new variants of the virus.</p>.<p>He said it is important that people follow Covid-appropriate behaviour as the virus-variants do not change their behaviour.</p>.<p>Raghavan said new emerging variants is one of the factors responsible for the scale and ferocity of the second Covid-19 wave in India.</p>.<p>“Immunity attained can fade away and someone who has been infected once can get re-infected. Decreased immunity and careless behaviour had driven the second wave,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Also read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/bots-can-now-help-you-find-covid-19-vaccine-availability-and-nearest-centre-982525.html" target="_blank">Bots can now help you find Covid-19 vaccine availability and nearest centre</a></strong></p>.<p>Raghavan said that the current surge in infections appeared to be because of the Indian “double mutant” variant and the spread of the UK variant has slowed down.</p>.<p>While Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat have recorded a dip in daily cases, states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab are showing an increasing trend.</p>.<p>“The rise in cases in cities like Bengaluru, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kanpur among others is alarming,” Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, told reporters.</p>.<p>He said an increase in deaths has been noticed with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana reporting more fatalities.</p>
