IS A THIRD WAVE COMING?

Through the first week of August, India recorded eight continuous days of rising Covid cases. More than 255,000 new coronavirus cases were reported between July 27 and August 2, an 8 per cent jump from the week before. August 9, however, saw 27,421 new cases in 24 hours, the lowest since March 16. According to the Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW), the second wave of Covid is still not over, it has merely reduced in intensity. A single-day fall in cases could easily be overturned, especially if we lower our guard. Like on March 8, when Covid cases dropped to 15,000 in a day from around 18,000, only to shoot up to 40,000 a day a week later, marking the onset of the second wave.

“We need to remain careful till a significant proportion of the population has been vaccinated. We shouldn’t assume we have achieved herd immunity;