Next 3 to 4 months critical, warns Centre amid Covid third wave concerns

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Friday warned against the decline in the use of facemasks, saying the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet. In a press briefing, the Health Ministry also expressed concerns over the “slow decline” in daily cases, saying the next three to four months will be very “critical” for the country.

The slow decline in number of coronavirus daily cases is a warning for the country that the situation is currently under control but it can deteriorate if Covid appropriate behaviour not followed, the government said. “Analysis shows a projected decline in the use of facemasks as we resume activities.

We should incorporate the use of facemasks in our lives as a new normal,” Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal was quoted as saying by media. India was hit by the second COVID wave in April and May this year that led to an alarming spike in coronavirus cases.

However, cases have been declining slowly. On Friday, the country reported 38,949 fresh cases and 542 more fatalities that pushed the tally and toll to 3.10 crore and 4.12 lakh respectively.