Govt anticipates increase in Covid cases in Jan citing next 40 days as crucial

New Delhi: The next 40 days will be crucial because, according to health ministry officials on Wednesday, India could experience a spike in Covid-19 cases in January. They cited the country's historical pattern of coronavirus outbreaks as their justification.

They asserted that infections won't be serious even if there is a new wave. In addition, they do not anticipate a sharp increase in hospitalisations and fatalities because, in contrast to China, which had previously implemented a flawed zero-Covid policy, the majority of Indians have hybrid immunity and have received vaccinations. Protection from infection and vaccination together is known as hybrid immunity.

“The trend we have seen in earlier Covid waves is that a new wave hits India in around 35-40 days whenever a surge is seen in East Asia,” official sources said. The warning was issued amid an increase in Covid-19 cases around the world, particularly in China, which was caused by the Omicron sub-variant BF.7.

Out of the 6,000 overseas visitors examined at airports around the nation in the previous two days, 39, according to officials, tested positive for Covid-19. On Saturday last, mandatory Covid testing of 2% of foreign arrivals from hotspot countries started, NIE reported.

Beginning next week, all foreign travellers from nations like China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore may be required to bring a Covid-negative RT-PCR report of a test done 72 hours previous to the trip. Although the idea was supposed to be formalised this week, no statement has been made as of yet.

If infection rates start to rise, the government may reinstate the mandatory completion of Air Suvidha forms, which was halted on November 22. A self-declaration Covid vaccination form called "Air Suvidha" was established as a preventative measure that also assisted in contact tracing.