Jakarta –
An organization of doctors in India has warned that a third wave of Covid in the country is inevitable due to social restrictions being relaxed across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also warned against crowds of visitors at tourist sites in India.
Photos and videos of tourists flocking to popular tourist destinations have gone viral in recent days.
Videos show that most of them are not wearing masks or social distancing in public places.
Reports from local media reveal that thousands of people are now returning to visit hillside tourist spots (hill station) in India, sparking fears of the virus spreading.
“I say very emphatically that it is not good for there to be crowds in tourist spots, markets, without wearing a mask,” Modi said in a tweet, realizing that the tourism industry had been hit hard by the imposition of lockdowns or lockdowns. lockdown.
Daily new cases in India have fallen to more than 40,000 in recent weeks, down from a peak of around 400,000 in May.
The drop in numbers was largely due to strict lockdowns in some states, but that policy is now being relaxed.
Nevertheless. experts fear India could be at risk of a third wave of infections as only about 6% of the eligible population have been fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, only about 22% have received at least one dose.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), an organization representing doctors in India, on Monday said it “pains to note that both the government and society are complacent and hold mass gatherings without following Covid protocols”.
“Tourist activities, pilgrimage travel, religious enthusiasm are all needed, but we can wait a few more months,” said IMA.
He added that opening up these destinations and allowing unvaccinated people to gather in large gatherings is “super spreader potential for the third wave of Covid”.
India has just emerged from its second deadly wave.
By then the overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums were filled with the dead.
Currently, several states have opened and allow tourism activities and religious gatherings.
But experts are concerned about the repercussions of these gatherings.
Experts fear large religious gatherings could lead to massive Covid contagion (Getty Images)
In April, millions gathered in the Himalayan city of Haridwar to participate in the Kumbh Mela festival, even as some cities grapple with oxygen shortages and hospital beds are scarce.
Several people – who came from all over the country – tested positive in the following days.
Now, authorities in the state of Uttar Pradesh are preparing to hold the annual Kanwar Yatra festival from July 25.
Experts say India needs to strictly enforce health protocols and further accelerate the rate of vaccinations to avoid a third wave.
India vaccinates around four million people daily, but needs 8-9 million vaccinations per day to reach its target of vaccinating everyone over the age of 18 by the end of this year.
Some states also don’t have enough vaccines.
On Tuesday, several public vaccination centers in Delhi were closed after they ran out of injections.
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(ita / ita)
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