As the Covid-19 situation eases up, states like Maharashtra, Delhi, and others have reduced all pandemic protocols. However, some experts claimed it might be too early for this.
Should India fear Covid variant XE?
The Coronavirus seems to be easy now but it is far from over. There is the fourth wave in some of the Asian and European countries due to Omicron sub-variant BA.2. And now, another deadly and rapidly spreading Covid variant XE has been detected. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared this virus deadly.
The new variant XE is reported to be 10 times more dangerous than the fastest-spreading Omicron subvariant BA.2. All health organizations have become alert about this new variant. Many countries in Asia and Europe are encountering the fourth wave of the pandemic. The worst is seen in South Korea, where about five lakh new cases are being registered daily. The situation remains fierce in China, where many cities have been put under lockdown to restrain the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, India’s first case of the XE variant was reported in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has said in a media release. However, an official from the union health ministry disagreed, saying the current evidence does not suggest that it is an XE variant.
Can this variant Trigger the 4th Wave?
IIT Kanpur research team, the one that had previously predicted the third wave of the pandemic, said India will witness the 4th COVID wave in June. With this, several experts also say that there is no scientific reason to predict a fourth Covid wave, but nobody can predict that it will not happen.
Talking to the media eminent virologist and former professor, CMC Vellore Dr. T Jacob John affirmed that he doesn’t believe in predicting waves based on mathematical modeling. “I do not comprehend how fear needs to be taught in human beings and for what objectives. So I don’t believe in predicting a wave based on mathematical modeling. I told you about the problems of this that computers had with type two polio vaccines. Mathematical modeling is good if all the factors that go into the mathematical modeling are good. So, there is no need to be fearful of the wave.”
Monitoring the situation, WHO is committed to collecting more information about this new variant. The health organization is investigating whether there is a significant difference in transmission and severity between this and previous variants.
Experts stated that masks should continue to be used, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated places.
