Possibility of Another Major COVID-19 Surge in India: "Up to 600,000 Infections Per Day Possible"

Published 24 Aug.2021 13:24(KST)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] A warning has been issued that India, which experienced a massive COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year, could face an even more severe pandemic.

According to PTI on the 24th, the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) of India stated in a report released the previous day that if the current vaccination rate does not increase, the next wave could see up to 600,000 new infections per day.

India experienced its first wave around September last year, and the second wave refers to the period around May when daily new cases exceeded 410,000.

If NIDM's predictions are accurate, the third wave could be worse than the second massive outbreak.

NIDM introduced three scenarios for the third wave, citing experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.

NIDM expects daily new cases to peak at 320,000 in October, with up to 500,000 infections per day in September alone. By the end of October, new infections could reach up to 200,000 per day.

Separately, India has administered 589 million vaccine doses so far.

Among them, about 133 million people have completed their second dose, which is approximately 9.5% of the 1.38 billion population.

Indian authorities initially aimed to complete vaccinations for 300 million people by this month, but significant setbacks have occurred.

Earlier, as the spread of COVID-19 subsided, public transportation and store operations nationwide, including in the capital New Delhi, almost returned to normal.

Amid this, concerns are rising that crowded highland resorts and shopping malls could become new infection hotspots.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently pointed out that it is not good to see people in resorts and city markets not wearing masks or observing social distancing at all, stating, "There are reasons to worry."