Hyderabad: Experts raise alarm as many throw caution to the wind

HYDERABAD: With several citizens currently holidaying at overcrowded hill stations, apart from people socializing in the city, experts have sounded an alert on how dangerously people are ignoring the midwave period.
“We have three colleagues who are currently in 5Manali and we have seen the photographs of the crowds there. I myself had plans but I have cancelled my ticket to Goa on second thoughts,” said 26-year-old Sirisha,from Hafeezpet.

Numerous parties at resorts and farmhouses are also being reported on city outskirts. Experts said the overdrive of social activity might invite trouble sooner than expected and can cause more harm. It is the behaviour of the people during the mid-wave period which will determine if there will be a third wave. Going by the current trend, experts fear it is only a matter of time when another peak might be seen.
“Now that the second wave has subsided, people are going on a rampage to travel and socialize. The way people are consuming this time is a little alarming and with the newer variants like Delta, Delta plus, etc it looks like there is a possibility of a third wave. It is only a matter of time when cases will peak,” said Dr Ranga Reddy Burri, president, Infection Control Academy of India, adding that we definitely need to be prepared.
Moreover, since the percentage of citizens completely vaccinated in the state still hovers around 10%, responsible behaviour is essential to delay the next wave. “Since we know that there is a possibility of a third wave, we need to be more responsible in preventing it. With this kind of behaviour, we might invite trouble earlier than expected and if the third wave begins in advance it would mean that more number of people will remain unvaccinated and will be prone to life-threatening infection,” said Dr P Raghu Ram, director, KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases, adding that people need to be extremely responsible for atleast one more year till a majority of the country’s population is vaccinated.