As world braces for fresh Covid wave, January 2023 to be crucial for India: Report

New Delhi: While China continues to battle the devastating outbreak of fresh Covid wave, India is bracing for the impending pandemic challenge.

Some provinces in China are reporting a million Covid cases on daily basis. It’s dissemination across the globe can’t be ruled out as the world has seen the spread of highly contagious virus despite imposing strictest restrictions and limiting movement of people across borders.

According to reports, the next 40 days are crucial for India as the mid-month may see fresh surge in Covid-19 cases, official govt sources said.

The severity & surge of Covid cases in January is being judged from the pattern of previous outbreaks.

“It has been noticed that a new wave of Covid-19 hits India around 30-35 days after it hits East Asia…. This has been a trend,” said a govt official.

Sources in the Health Ministry added that the existing trends have shown that the virus first emerges from East Asia, then spreads to Europe in 10 days, then takes America in grip in another 10 days and then the Pacific islands too come in its radar.

The Health Ministry sources, however maintain that the severity of infection will be less. Even if there is a wave, deaths & hospitalization will be very low, it says.

While the fresh Covid surge makes the Dragon panicky, Centre as well as state govts conducted mock drills to assess the hospital’s preparedness to fight the deadly disease. State govts have been told to prepare of all kinds of eventuality.

The fresh spike in Covid-19 cases has been driven by new strain — Omicron sub-variant BF.7. According to reports, transmissibility of this strain – BF.7 subvariant is very high and an infected person can further transfer infection to at least 16 persons.