PANAJI
The intensity of the expected third wave of the pandemic would be clear by October this year and it would give the authorities enough time to plot the schedule for the state assembly polls, which are likely to be held in early 2022, said Dr Shekhar Salkar member of the state government’s experts committee for Covid management.
“We will be sure as to whether the third wave is expected to come or not, by the end of September and October. If it is coming at all and how powerful it is expected to be, we will know by October. Elections will still be a long way to go,” Salkar said in response to a question from a media person during a press conference held at the BJP state headquarters in Panaji.
Salkar also said that vaccination was the best way to keep the ill effects of Covid at bay citing a statistical example of the Goa Medical College and its workforce.
“5,000 people work in the GMC. Barring eight persons, everyone has been vaccinated. The rest have taken the first vaccine and around 3000-4000 have taken a second dose. Only 115 contracted Covid after taking the vaccine, but none of them required hospitalisation. Two workers who died, both were not vaccinated,” Salkar said.
“Out of the 3,000 persons who have died -- 2,000 of whom died in the second wave, only 11 have died after vaccination, that too with severe comorbidities. Vaccination can prevent 95.5 per cent of deaths. It is huge. Tomorrow, even if there is a third wave, we are in a very positive way, we can fight and prevent deaths,” Salkar also said.
Salkar also said that the State government was now stressing on vaccination of bedridden patients.
Salkar also said that the 100 per cent vaccination target was difficult to achieve in wake of persons who simply refuse to heed the importance of the exercise.
“The other category (non-vaccinated) are those who hesitate, who refuse to take a vaccine, whatever you do. Even if we touch their feet, they are like ‘who are you to tell me? I will not take it,” he said.
The press conference was held to announce the BJP’s pan India outreach campaign, whose objective is to mitigate the health crisis in case the third Covid wave strikes. As part of the BJP’s outreach programme in Goa, doctors, as well as trained volunteers, will be fanning out across the state in order to aid those persons in need of assistance during the pandemic.
