Experts suggest 14-day lockdown in Bengaluru, warn of third wave by October

With Bengaluru recording 1.5 lakh active coronavirus cases, the highest for any city in the country, the Karnataka Task Advisory Committee on COVID-19 has asked the state government to impose stringent restrictions, including lockdown for 14 days to break the chain.

The members of the panel have also recommended to the B.S. Yediyurappa government to increase the number of hospital beds to tide over the crisis.

The TAC members also foresee the third wave of COVID-19 in October-November and have, accordingly, insisted that the government should complete the vaccination of vulnerable age groups before the next wave hits.

Professor and Head of Lifecourse Epidemiology, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Giridhar Babu told PTI "I have on record said that there are two main strategies. Firstly, we need to reduce the number of cases and that will happen only by a stringent lockdown for at least 14 days. Secondly, we should expand the bed capacity by taking as much as possible beds from all the private medical colleges, nursing homes and hospitals."

According to him, the 14-day lockdown will reduce the number of infections. The TAC member said the state may witness the peak of the second wave by May-end or the first week of June.

Eminent cardiologist and director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, C.N. Manjunath said he had in November 2020 predicted the arrival of the second wave of COVID-19 in March or April based on the pattern of spread and resurgence in Europe.

While the COVID-19 cases may come down by May-end or the first week of June, people's behaviour for the next six-nine months will hold the key.

"The most important is when the cases come down, guard should not be let down. Face mask wearing and physical distancing should continue while most importantly congregation should be banned," he told PTI.

The health experts were of the opinion that the healthcare system is totally suffocated.

"In the first phase, the cases were coming in a staggered manner. So the daily rise in a particular state was 200 to 300 cases. Now it's in thousands," the cardiologist said.

Giridhar Babu too concurred with him.

"The BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) has informed the High Court that there are no more ICU beds. So, the court has also said the situation is very scary. That will summarise the current status," Babu explained.

Both were unanimous that the vaccination drive should be completed by October before the possible third wave hits the nation.

"Vaccination should go on. By October- November, the entire country should be vaccinated. Otherwise, we are in for a rude shock again," Manjunath said.

Meanwhile, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said the officials at the civic agency's COVID-19 war room are working overtime.

On the shortage of oxygen and essential drugs such as Remdesivir, the chief commissioner told the news agency that the whole country was grappling with it, and the Centre and the state are dealing with it in an effective manner.

To a query on the need for more ICU beds, he said already a few have been arranged and more have to be procured very soon.

With 26,962 infections on Friday, the state touched its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases.

There were 190 deaths too.

More alarming was the fact the active cases in the state crossed the 2 lakh mark, of which 1.5 lakh are in Bengaluru alone.

Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had during a videoconference told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the state needs about 1,500 tonnes of oxygen and two lakh vials of Remdesivir.

To contain the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, the state has imposed night curfew and weekend curfews while ordering closure of many shops and business establishments.