<p>With a central expert panel predicting the third wave of Covid-19 hitting the country anytime between September and October, the positive percentage of the Srinagar district indicates the onset of the third wave.</p>.<p>According to Dr Rouf Hussain Rather, a Social and Preventive Medicine expert, the positive percentage has increased from 0.2% in the previous weeks to 0.44% in the week gone by.</p>.<p>Dr Rather, who works in the Divisional Covid Control Room in Kashmir, said the rise is significant and “possibly signalling the onset of the third wave in Kashmir.”</p>.<p>“One thing is certain, the infection is spreading at a faster rate, especially in Srinagar and it might now show in other districts as well,” he said.</p>.<p>On July 30, there were 1171 active positive Covid cases in J&K which has slightly increased to 1264 on August 30. Among the active positive cases currently, 448 are in Srinagar, accounting for over 35% of all cases in the UT.</p>.<p>Last week a committee of experts constituted by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) had suggested significantly ramping up vaccination pace before the onset of the third wave of Covid-19.</p>.<p>The Committee had said that children will have a similar risk as adults since pediatric facilities, doctors and equipment like ventilators, ambulances, etc. are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected.</p>.<p>On the vaccination front, only 15% of the adult population in the Union Territory has received both doses till now. And if children are also included, the number decreases to mere 10%.</p>.<p>According to a recent study done by professors and alumni from Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) in collaboration with Nirma University, the vaccination rate of India is currently 3.2% and if it does not improve, India can witness six lakh cases per day in the third wave.</p>
<p>With a central expert panel predicting the third wave of Covid-19 hitting the country anytime between September and October, the positive percentage of the Srinagar district indicates the onset of the third wave.</p>.<p>According to Dr Rouf Hussain Rather, a Social and Preventive Medicine expert, the positive percentage has increased from 0.2% in the previous weeks to 0.44% in the week gone by.</p>.<p>Dr Rather, who works in the Divisional Covid Control Room in Kashmir, said the rise is significant and “possibly signalling the onset of the third wave in Kashmir.”</p>.<p>“One thing is certain, the infection is spreading at a faster rate, especially in Srinagar and it might now show in other districts as well,” he said.</p>.<p>On July 30, there were 1171 active positive Covid cases in J&K which has slightly increased to 1264 on August 30. Among the active positive cases currently, 448 are in Srinagar, accounting for over 35% of all cases in the UT.</p>.<p>Last week a committee of experts constituted by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) had suggested significantly ramping up vaccination pace before the onset of the third wave of Covid-19.</p>.<p>The Committee had said that children will have a similar risk as adults since pediatric facilities, doctors and equipment like ventilators, ambulances, etc. are nowhere close to what may be required in case a large number of children become infected.</p>.<p>On the vaccination front, only 15% of the adult population in the Union Territory has received both doses till now. And if children are also included, the number decreases to mere 10%.</p>.<p>According to a recent study done by professors and alumni from Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) in collaboration with Nirma University, the vaccination rate of India is currently 3.2% and if it does not improve, India can witness six lakh cases per day in the third wave.</p>