Expert: Little chance of remarkable Covid outbreak in India

Guwahati: According to a leading expert in infectious diseases, there is a slim likelihood of a big Covid breakout in the nation even though the disease may not be entirely eradicated.

Dr. Parvaiz Koul, head of the SKIMS Hospital in Kashmir, made his comments as a spike in coronavirus cases was occurring in various nations, including China, due to the highly contagious Omicron strains, primarily BF.7.

“It is uncertain when or if Covid will become an endemic, but it is unlikely that it will be completely eliminated. We may see occasional outbreaks, if new mutations emerge, like in China. In India, it seems unlikely that there will be a significant new outbreak in the next two-three months,” Koul, a leading pulmonologist and researcher on infectious diseases, said.

Taking to Twitter, Koul said India had an advantage in dealing with Covid due to widespread hybrid immunity but suggested that the high-risk group might have to go for a booster dose. There is an “advantage due to widespread hybrid immunity, although those at high risk might require a booster if significant time has elapsed from the last dose”, he said. “Those who haven’t taken the precautionary (booster) dose, must. Watch for government guidelines,” Koul said. 

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