Srinagar: Experts on Wednesday said that the peak of the second wave of Covid-19 is yet to come in Jammu and Kashmir and it is expected to hit the region in coming two to three weeks.
Former Director SKIMS, and chairman Covid Advisory Committee, Dr Mohammed Sultan Khuroo while said that peak of second wave of Covid-19 is expected in next three weeks, till then cases of Covid-19 will surge further.
According to the local news agency KNO, he said that the fight against COVID needs to be intensified and it shall take more efforts from the administration and public to control the surge as the pathogen, which is more infectious, can evade and cause breakthrough infections.
“Travel discipline to J&K needs to be implemented and all travelers who board a plane or a train/bus to visit/travel J&K must have a prior RT-PCR negative certificate,” Khuroo said.
“The test needs to be repeated at the entry point, at least by a rapid antigen test. Those who are positive must be quarantined strictly to avoid the spread of infection,” he said.
Khuroo also said that testing and tracing policy should be intensified and made more realistic.
“Rapid testing should be limited to specific circumstances and the RT-PCR facility must be made more available and quicker,” he said.
“Vaccine hesitancy needs to be fought and the vaccination program must be strengthened. This shall reduce infections and further mutations.”
Doctors Association president Dr Nisar Ul Hassan said that at that the peak of the second wave is about to come in the next 15 days.
He said at least three percent patients tested positive for Covid-19 need hospitalisation and oxygen support. “And if the cases continue to surge with the current speed our hospitals won’t be able to cope,”he said.
He said there is need to remain cautious and not to lower the guard even if cases start declining, as “fresh waves can come anytime and could be more deadly as most of the population is yet to be vaccinated.”
Hassan said that the virus is behaving differently and the only predictability about this virus is that it is unpredictable.
Pulmonologist Dr Khursheed said that situation is very severe and beds at most of the leading hospitals including CD hospital are already full, while peak of the wave is expected in next three weeks.
“The need of the hour is that people must impose self lockdown and don’t wait for government lockdown so that we can thwart the infection spread,” Dr Khursheed said.
He said that “it is community transmission and there are hardly few households who are yet to contract the virus and people must keep their movement restricted to their lawns only.
“People must remain extra cautious and anyone having symptoms must get tested. There is no need to rush to the hospital if anyone comes positive as around 85 percent positive patients need mild treatment and good hydration,” he said. (With inputs from KNO)
