Third Covid wave imminent, tourism can wait: IMA

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 12

Even as the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday warned of an imminent third wave and said tourism and pilgrimages could wait, the WHO said it didn’t recommend vaccination as a basis for permission to travel across the world.

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• Edit: Covid dip in region

Ahead of the Tuesday meeting that PM Narendra Modi has called with the CMs of high-burden northeastern states, the IMA said: “We appeal to the state governments not to let the guard down. With the global evidence available and the history of pandemics, the third wave is inevitable. It is the responsibility of every citizen to strictly follow Covid-appropriate behaviour for at least three more months and get vaccinated,” IMA president JA Jayalal said.

The IMA’s appeal came on a day when WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was worried about the Delta variant’s emergence which was leading to increased hospitalisations in several countries.

The WHO said it did not recommend vaccination as a basis for permission to travel across the world, adding that its International Health Regulations Committee would meet on Wednesday to take a policy call on this matter.

“In 10 days, we are coming out with guidelines on digital certificates which can be interoperable between nations,” WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said.