New Delhi: A top health expert has warned that the war against the COVID-19 pandemic was still on as the disease can make a comeback with a vengeance. Dr Naveet Wig, chairperson of the COVID-19 Task Force at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, Saturday said the people must remain cautious.

Dr Wig’s warning came even as India successfully administered 90 crore doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The expert told news agency ANI that the key to successfully tackling the pandemic is to ensure that every eligible person receives both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Not an easy war

“We have to go far ahead of 100 crores and have to make everybody double vaccinated. So this is our aim and we are moving ahead, but we have to move faster and ensure that everybody gets the second dose as well,” Dr Wig said.

“And that is how we are going to win this war. It is not an easy war still, we cannot be overconfident, we have to be a little underconfident so that we don’t lower our guard and take all precautions,” he added.

The AIIMS COVID taskforce chief pointed out that some states in the country were still reporting a positivity rate of over 10 per cent.

“It is not easy. Many countries are still fighting battles. So we have to be very cautious as this can come back with a vengeance,” he stated.

Acute febrile illness all around

It may be noted here that the Union Ministry of Health Affairs has been issuing regular alerts ahead of the festival season, asking states and union territories to be cautious and urging the public to adhere to coronavirus norms.

Dr Wig stressed that the people should continue to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour and remain extra careful till at least two weeks after Diwali because acute febrile illness is all around.

“We are seeing cases with dengue, scrub typhus, typhoid fever and airborne diseases. So it is very difficult for doctors to decide if it is Covid or flu, dengue, typhoid fever, or viral hepatitis. So my request is that till festival season, please go slow, wear your mask and avoid social gatherings,” he advised.