Covid-19 third wave likely to be as severe as second, may last for 98 days: SBI Report

The State Bank of India in its latest report has said that the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India could grave and be as severe as the second wave.

As per the report, the average duration of the third wave for top countries is 98 days and that of the second wave is 108 days, with the third-wave peak as a multiple of second at 1.8 and the second wave as a multiple of first at 5.2 (for India it was at 4.2).

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"International experience thus suggests that the intensity of the third wave is as severe as the second wave. However it is also observed that in the third wave if we are better prepared, the decline in serious case rate will lead to less number of deaths, the SBI report said."

"We find out that if serious cases decline from 20% to 5% (due to better health infrastructure and rigorous vaccination) in the third wave, then the number of deaths in the third wave could significantly reduce to 40,000 as compared to current deaths of more than 1.7 lakh," the SBI report added.

The importance of vaccination to tackle the crisis has also been highlighted in the report as it said that "So vaccination should be the key priority, especially for the children who could be the next vulnerable group. With around 15-17 crore children in the 12-18 age bracket, India should go for an advanced procurement strategy like that adopted by developed nations to inoculate this age-group."