With many states easing Covid-related restrictions and crowds returning to markets, the threat of a third Covid-19 wave looms large on the country. Dr Neeraj Nischal, Assistant Professor Department of Medicine at Delhi AIIMS, has said while we cannot control further mutations in the Covid-19 virus, Covid-appropriate behaviour such as social distancing and wearing of masks can help avoid another surge in virus cases.

“In any pandemic, the wave depends on two important factors — one is virus related and second is human-related factors,” Dr Nischal told news agency ANI.

He said while the mutation in the virus is not in someone’s hands, appropriate behaviour can avoid a surge in Covid cases.

“Now virus mutates and becomes more infectious. It is something which is beyond our control. But of course, if we do not allow this virus to replicate in our body then maybe this type of mutations can be avoided. What we can do to control is our behaviour. We have been talking about Covid appropriate behaviour for 15-16 months and we know that by Covid appropriate behaviour, one can stop these waves altogether. That had happened in the second wave also,” he told ANI.

Dr Nischal said when the lockdowns were in place, everybody was forced to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour which helped in stemming the second wave stopped. He said this must be continued to stop any further rise in cases.

On the ongoing Covid-vaccination drive, Dr Nischal said it will help in preventing infections. “Even if you get the infection then it will ensure that you don’t get a severe form of the disease,” he said.

When could third Covid-19 wave strike India?

On Saturday, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said India could see a third wave of coronavirus in six to eight weeks if Covid-appropriate behaviour is not followed and crowding is not prevented.

“If Covid-appropriate behaviour is not followed, the third wave can happen in six to eight weeks. We need to work aggressively to prevent another large wave till vaccination kicks in,” Guleria told PTI.

However, Guleria also said that a nationwide lockdown cannot be a solution to rein in the pandemic as it could impact economic activity. Instead, area-specific lockdown and containment measures should be implemented to control the surge in cases in an area where the positivity rate goes beyond 5 per cent, he added.

The Centre has also urged the states undergoing unlock to follow the five-fold strategy to counter any surge in Covid-19 cases. The central communication comes after the easing of Covid-related lockdown norms has led to crowding in markets and other places in different states.

The five-fold strategy includes Covid-appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease.