Third wave ebbed, Covid-19 entering endemic stage: Maha official

State health department official has said that the third wave of Covid-19 has ebbed completely and that we are entering the “endemic stage” where coronavirus would be yet another ailment

Mumbai: For the seventh consecutive day, Maharashtra reported less than 500 Covid-19 cases. The state added 324 fresh cases on Saturday, pushing the tally to 78,70,951. Mumbai, meanwhile, added 31 infections, taking the caseload to 10,56,298. A state health department official has said that the third wave of Covid-19 has ebbed completely and that we are entering the “endemic stage” where coronavirus would be yet another ailment.

As per the health department official, active cases would decline to about 500 by next month and active infections in Mumbai, which was 347 on Saturday, could drop to 100 by next month. (VIJAY BATE/HT PHOTO)

With two fresh deaths on Saturday, the death mounted to 1,43,752 in the state, while the active cases dropped to 2,721. On Saturday, Mumbai reported zero deaths so the death toll remained at 16,692. There are 347 active cases in the city.

As per the health department official, active cases would decline to about 500 by next month and active infections in Mumbai, which was 347 on Saturday, could drop to 100 by next month.

“It (active cases) will not become nil as we will continue to report sporadic cases. But we are at the lowest minimal, and the third wave has completely receded. The active cases will drop to around 500 [active cases] by next month, while in Mumbai it will go to around 100 [active] cases by next month,” said Dr Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer.

Pune continues to have the highest active cases at 1,224, followed by Mumbai (347), Thane (229), Ahmednagar (199), and Nashik (139). Ten districts in the state have under 10 active cases, including Jalgaon (8), Dhule (2), Jalna (2), Parbhani (5), Hingoli (1), Washim (9), Yavatmal (4), Wardha (4), Gondia (6) and Chandrapur (9). The remaining districts have active cases in double digits.

Awate said that the state is entering an endemic stage as the trend of the new cases reported are sporadic in nature. “If the current trend continues, we will become endemic (stage). When any disease doesn’t remain a public health issue, and cases come as per weather pattern, migration or following certain events, then it is an endemic stage. Like we are endemic for leptospirosis, malaria and dengue,” he said.

According to health experts, the possibility of a fourth wave hitting Maharashtra is low due to the widespread immunity -- natural and due to high vaccine coverage. The viral activity will, however, continue and cases will remain in low numbers, they predict.

Awate said that the fourth wave depends on several factors, including virus mutation and new variants. “We cannot say definitively say anything about the fourth wave at this point because any emergence of a new variant can change the equation, and nobody can predict when a variant may come. So it is difficult to predict,” he said.