New Delhi: The third wave of COVID-19 pandemic will not be as severe as the second wave, a study done by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found.

The study titled ‘Plausibility of the third wave of COVID-19 in India: A mathematical modelling based analysis’ was published in Indian Journal of Medical Research.

According to a reports, the study demonstrates plausible mechanisms by which a substantial third wave could occur, while also illustrating that it is unlikely for any such resurgence to be as large as the second wave. “Preparedness planning for any potential future wave will benefit by drawing upon the projected numbers based on the present modelling exercise,” the study said.

However, the researchers also noted that the projections were subject to uncertainties and scaling up vaccinations is the only way to ‘mitigate against any eventuality’.

Meanwhile, ICMR on Saturday said that India has achieved the milestone of conducting 40 crore COVID tests, with the average of more than 18 lakh tests per day in June. India has tested 40,18,11,892 samples across the country till Friday, it said.

The country tested 35 crore COVID-19 samples till June 1, 2021. “This has been enabled by rapidly increasing testing infrastructure and capacity across the country. ICMR has been enhancing COVID-19 testing capability across the country by expanding and diversifying testing capacity by leveraging technology and facilitating innovation in affordable diagnostic kits,” the ICMR said in a statement.

Prof. Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR, said exponential increase in testing has led to early identification, prompt isolation and effective treatment of COVID-19 cases. These have eventually resulted in a sustained low fatality rate. “This testing milestone is testimony to the fact that India has been successful in implementing the strategy of 5T approach ‘Test, Track, Trace, Treat and use of Technology’ efficiently, which will enable us to contain the spread of pandemic,” the statement quoted Bhargava.