Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 2: The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has made a slew of recommendations in a bid to contain the second wave of the pandemic expected in early 2021 including banning public celebrations ahead of the new year. However, the government said it was yet to take a call on the matter.

The second wave of the pandemic was expected in January-February next year, TAC warned and has asked to keep ready by the first week of January, clinical facilities at October level (when cases per day were about 10,000) in terms of beds, ICUs, ventilators, and so on, both in government and private hospitals or this could be ramped up at a short notice of 2-3 days maximum. Further, it has recommended big gatherings including a ban on new year public celebrations from December 26 to January 1 and impose night curfew (8 pm to 5 am) during this period.

The TAC has given an advisory on recognition and containment measures for the second wave of Covid-19 in Karnataka based on the deliberations at its 53rd meeting held on November 24. According to TAC, early recognition of the second wave of COVID-19 in the state can be done by closely monitoring the 7-day average growth rate and reproduction number (R0) at district and state levels. It said an epidemic intelligence team shall be supporting the state war room for early recognition of the second wave and alert the additional chief secretary and commissioner of the health and family welfare department.

Speaking to reporters here, health minister Dr Sudhakar said a meeting will be held at the government level regarding the TAC recommendations. "Our positivity rate is less than 1.2 per cent. The report of the TAC states that there may be a second wave. A meeting regarding this will be held in a couple of days. Based on the outcome of the meeting, discussions will be held with the chief minister and the final decisions will be taken," he said.

He said no decision has been taken on the night curfew and a meeting is yet to take place to discuss the recommendations. The USA, Europe, Australia, and other countries have witnessed the second wave of Covid-19. Within the country states like Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, and other states have also witnessed a surge in cases, therefore, it is now considered important for Karnataka to prepare for a possible second wave of Covid-19.

Experts say that the second wave is usually anticipated three to four months after the first spike or wave which is possibly January- February 2021 in case of Karnataka. This is factoring in winter, unlocking progress, weak enforcements, population movements, etc. Noting that a minimum of 1.25 lac tests per day should continue till the end of February 2021, of which one lakh shall be RT-PCR ( 1:5 pooled in lab as per state protocol), the TAC advisory recommends for fortnightly testing of all teachers, pupils, and staff in educational institutions, Anganwadi staff, and others by RT-PCR. TAC has suggested exploring Covid Care Centres (CCCs) to be run on PPP model with reputed NGOs for better facilities, services, and stress on the need for ramping up clinical facilities.

Other recommendations by TAC include, after carefully assessing the Covid-19 situation in the last week of December, graded opening of schools from January may be considered, i.e. classes 12 and 10 to initially from January and classes 11 and 9 to follow later on. TAC has also recommended restriction of mass gatherings like fairs and festivals, religious congregations, cultural events, etc, and to strictly restrict super spreader events during December and January (winter months) like permitting events only in open areas like marriages, etc with a cap of 100 people. It could be 200 for political and public events, up to 50 in death ceremonies and 20 in funerals.

TAC has suggested stringent measures to be enforced including the usage of facemasks, having marshals/police fine violators of the rule in busy areas like markets, bus stops, commercial areas, buses, and traffic junctions. It also suggested introducing tough action as being done in Madhya Pradesh, imprisonment of a few hours for mask violators for citizens so that they take the warning seriously.