Third wave 'inevitable', tourism and pilgrimage can wait: Indian Medical Association warns

The IMA warned that India had only recovered from the disastrous second wave, owing to considerable efforts of the modern medical fraternity and political leadership.

The medical body also expressed pain that many authorities are showing complacency in allowing mass gatherings across various parts of the country.

"With the global evidence available and the history of any pandemics, the third wave is inevitable and imminent...However, it is painful to note...in many parts of the country both the government and public are complacent and engaged in mass gatherings without following Covid protocols," an IMA press release said on Monday.

"Tourist bonanza, pilgrimage travel, religious fervour are all needed but can wait for a few more months. Opening up these rituals and enabling people without vaccination to go scot-free in these mass gatherings are potential super spreaders for the Covid third wave," it said.

The IMA noted that consequences of treating a Covid patient and its impact on the economy will be much better than the economic loss suffered by avoiding such mass gatherings.

Going by the experience of the past year-and-a-half, the impact of the third wave can be mitigated by ensuring universal vaccination and following Covid-appropriate behaviour, according to IMA.

India reported 37,154 new cases in the last 24 hours, as per data released by the Ministry of Health on Monday.

During the same period, 724 people died due to the virus, taking the total death toll to 408764.