Covid third wave can be avoided if strict measures are taken: Government advisors

New Delhi : The government's top scientific advisor has claimed that India may be able to dodge the third wave of coronavirus if strict measures are taken right now. The announcement comes two days after the nation was asked to brace for the third wave of coronavirus amid spiking daily cases.

"If we take strong measures, the third wave may not happen in all the places or indeed anywhere at all. It depends much on how effectively the guidance is implemented at the local level, in the states, in districts and in the cities everywhere," Dr K VijayRaghavan said.

His latest remarks are contrary to what he announced two days back when he claimed that the third wave in the nation in inevitable. But it is not clear at what time scale this Phase 3 will occur."

He also mentioned that the current surge in the number of coronavirus cases is mainly because of the double mutant, adding that the vaccines need to be updated to tackle the new strain.

India's healthcare system is crumbling under the weight of patients, with hospitals running out of beds and medical oxygen. Morgues and crematoriums cannot handle the number of dead and makeshift funeral pyres burn in parks and car parks.

On Friday, the nation once again reported a grim record of daily cases with 4,14,188 on Friday. Deaths from COVID-19 rose by 3,915 to 2,34,083.

Some of the medical experts have said that the real extent of COVID-19 could be five time to 10 times th official tally.

Since the start of the pandemic, it has reported 2.1 crore cases and 2,34,083 deaths. It currently has 36 lakh active cases.