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NEW DELHI: The Indian Medical Association on Monday appealed to state governments to not let the guard down against Covid at a time when, it said, the country has just left the second wave of the pandemic behind.
It said a third of the pandemic is “inevitable and imminent”, given the history of any pandemic.
The association also expressed concern over people and states being complacent and participating in mass gatherings without adhering to Covid-19 protocols, saying these can be potential spreaders of the virus. “Opening up these rituals and enabling people without vaccination to go scot-free in these mass gatherings are potential super spreaders for the Covid third wave,” the statement said.
The IMA said though while tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour are needed, these can wait for a few more months. “However, it is painful to note that in this crucial time, when everyone needs to work for the mitigation of the third wave, in many parts of the country, both governments and the public are complacent and engaged in mass gatherings without following Covid protocols. Tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour, all are needed, but can wait for a few more months.
The IMA appealed to all the states to control mass gatherings. Its statement comes on a day when the annual Rath Yatra began in Puri and amid talks of allowing the “Kanwar Yatra” in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The doctors’ body said that based on the experience of the last one-and-a-half years of the war with the virus and the emerging evidence, it is obvious that by making the universal vaccination drive reach the maximum number of people and strictly following Covid-appropriate behaviour, people can face the third wave with confidence and mitigate its impact.
“The consequences of treating a patient with Covid in a hospital and its impacts on the economy will be much better than the economic loss we suffer by avoiding such mass gatherings. It is the duty and responsibility of everyone at this moment to strictly enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour for minimum three more months and ensure that everyone near our houses is getting vaccinated,” the statement also said.
It said a third of the pandemic is “inevitable and imminent”, given the history of any pandemic.
The association also expressed concern over people and states being complacent and participating in mass gatherings without adhering to Covid-19 protocols, saying these can be potential spreaders of the virus. “Opening up these rituals and enabling people without vaccination to go scot-free in these mass gatherings are potential super spreaders for the Covid third wave,” the statement said.
The IMA said though while tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour are needed, these can wait for a few more months. “However, it is painful to note that in this crucial time, when everyone needs to work for the mitigation of the third wave, in many parts of the country, both governments and the public are complacent and engaged in mass gatherings without following Covid protocols. Tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour, all are needed, but can wait for a few more months.
The IMA appealed to all the states to control mass gatherings. Its statement comes on a day when the annual Rath Yatra began in Puri and amid talks of allowing the “Kanwar Yatra” in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The doctors’ body said that based on the experience of the last one-and-a-half years of the war with the virus and the emerging evidence, it is obvious that by making the universal vaccination drive reach the maximum number of people and strictly following Covid-appropriate behaviour, people can face the third wave with confidence and mitigate its impact.
“The consequences of treating a patient with Covid in a hospital and its impacts on the economy will be much better than the economic loss we suffer by avoiding such mass gatherings. It is the duty and responsibility of everyone at this moment to strictly enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour for minimum three more months and ensure that everyone near our houses is getting vaccinated,” the statement also said.
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