3rd Wave In Goa By Mid Or End-Jan: Dr Pranav Kabra

Goa needs to urgently impose curbs and restrictions to prevent loss of life

PANAJI: The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly across the country with neighboring Maharashtra recording over 142 cases as of Sunday evening. We spoke to Dr Pranav Kabra (MD) on the situation in Goa. Government of Goa must be doubly sure and surprise testing must be taking up at restaurants, shops, etc. ALSO READ: Curbs, Night Curfew, Partial Lock Down Likely In Goa Post 2nd Jan

IndyaTv: While other states have imposed restrictions and curbs including night curfew, Goa has not yet imposed any preventative measures?

Dr Pranav Kabra: Like all other states, Goa must urgently impose checks and curbs. Testing must be increased as thousands of tourists come in from other states via private vehicles and there is no checking whatsoever. Testing at the borders must be implemented on a war footing. Cases in Mumbai are increasing by 15 to 20 per cent everyday. At this rate, we can say the third wave could start from either mid or end January next year in parts of the country. Goa is normally 15 days behind Maharashtra. So I expect the third wave to start in Goa from the first week of February 2022. Or it could even be 15 days earlier. Say 15th of January. It all depends on the crowding during New Year’s eve in the tourist state.

IndyaTv: What is the situation with the Omicron variant in the country?

Dr Pranav Kabra: Today the state of Maharashtra recorded 31 new Omicron cases with the tally going up to 141 as of Sunday evening. There are possibly hundreds of undetected cases across the state and the State Government must double the testing in high risk areas. A total of around 422 Omicron cases were reported in 17 States/UTs of India so far. The number of persons recovered is 130, the Union Health Ministry informed today. Out of this, Maharashtra topped the list with 108 confirmed cases followed by Delhi (79 cases) and Gujarat (43 cases). Additionally, Telangana reported 3 new cases of the new COVID variant, Omicron in the last 24 hours, according to the state health department. 8 new cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus have been found at Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Most states have reported incidence of Omicron cases and with Goa getting tourists from all over the country, it is unlikely that there are no Omicron cases in the coastal state.

IndyaTv: Will night curfew help?

Dr Pranav Kabra: I have my doubts, because people are flooding the markets and shops between 5pm to 8pm, before the night curfew starts. This is making matters worse, because there is huge overcrowding in the evening hours.

IndyaTv: How serious will the 3rd wave be?

Dr Pranav Kabra: One good news is that the majority of Omicron patients were asymptomatic and recovered without any medications. None of the patients was given oxygen support, steroids or Remdesivir and very few required hospitalization. Most them them were cured by home treatment, multivitamins and pain killers. This is a good sign as unlike with the Delta variant which attacked the patients lungs, the Omicron variant is prevalent in the throat of the patient and causes severe body pain, “scratching” in the throat and fever. Most Omicron patients do not need oxygen as their lungs are not severely affected.