Covid spike not big concern, but mask up & get vaccinated: Experts

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Virologists have stated that the recent spike in Covid- 19 infections in the city is not a big concern. However, they have urged citizens not to drop guard and follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB), such as wearing masks and getting vaccination.

This comes in the backdrop of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) recording one Covid-19 death on Wednesday and 4,280 infections in the past nine days. The test positivity rate too climbed to over three per cent in the last three days. The BBMP on Tuesday issued fresh guidelines for educational institutions after 31 students from two schools tested positive during a Rapid Antigen Test. The civic body has advised students and staff to wear masks and practise physical distancing, among other measures.

Dr Jacob John, noted virologist and professor at Department of Community Health at Christian Medical College, Vellore, said precautions were necessary, but added that the positive cases in Bengaluru and other metros were not worrying. “If you look at all of India Bomaby, Chennai, Bengaluru and other metros are seeing an increase in positive cases. The total number of positive cases across the country is going up and down. This is absolutely typical of the endemic phase,” he said.

Dr John lamented that many people are not wearing masks and not getting vaccinated despite being aware of their benefits. “Everything you do has a cost and benefit. Wearing a mask costs a small amount of money but the benefit is huge,” he said. “Masks are a must in crowded places. It will reduce the speed of the coronavirus spread,” he said .

‘Low booster dose’

“We have a shamefully low vaccination rate. The precautionary dose, which is the Indian name for the booster dose, has been administered only to three per cent of the population. Second dose was given to 66 per cent or two third and the first dose was administered to 76 percent or three fourth of the population. This is not acceptable,” Dr John said.

Dr Ravi, virologist at National Institute of Medical Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), said India was protected by hybrid immunity, which means that most of the country’s population had suffered at least one natural infection and had received a single dose of vaccine. Both virologists agreed that a fourth wave was unlikely, unless another variant appeared