JAIPUR: Even as decreasing Covid-19 cases have brought some relief,
health minister Raghu Sharma has warned about a
second virus wave that could hit the state by mid-December. On October 25, TOI had published a report, ‘
Covid panel predicts cases may rise in December’, and reported that authorities had directed officials to increase the availability of oxygen cylinders to 25,000 daily for treatment. The government had started preparations to deal with it and appealed to people to take precautions from being infected.
“Experts believe that the second wave may hit before December 15. People have to be very cautious, wear masks, maintain social distancing and wash hands frequently to be safe. According to experts, there will also be an increase in cases of seasonal diseases such as swine flu, dengue, cold and cough in the winter. If pollution levels rise, corona cases will surge,” Sharma warned.
“Rajasthan is ready for a second wave of corona. We have sufficient ICU beds, oxygen-supported beds and general beds for Covid patients,” he said. Currently, Covid cases have come down a bit in the state. As a result, the demand for oxygen cylinders too has gone down significantly.
“When cases had peaked, the demand for oxygen cylinders was almost 13,000 per day, but that has now come down to 6,000-7,000,” he said. As the second wave is expected to spread the virus faster, the minister has directed officials to increase the availability of oxygen cylinders to 25,000 per day.
Oxygen generation plants too are being set up at district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and those attached to medical colleges so that patients do not face lack of oxygen. Liquid oxygen plants are also being set up at hospitals attached to medical colleges and a pipeline system is being developed, the minister said. As per experts, masks are better than vaccine as the latter's effect will not be more than 60%. But by wearing masks regularly, chances of infection can be brought down by 90%.