The third wave of the coronavirus pandemic will likely peak earlier than expected – in the next three weeks, says a report.

There has been a huge decline in new cases in the top 15 districts which had the maximum cases, stated an SBI Research. Infections in the top 15 districts have dropped to 37.4% in January, from 67.9% in December. However, 10 of the top 15 districts are major cities and among these, Bengaluru and Pune continue to report higher rates of infection. The contribution of rural districts in new caseload has surged to 32.6% in January, compared to the lowest of 14.4% in the month of December, stated the report. 

Fresh COVID-19 cases in Mumbai seem to have reached their peaked (20,971 cases on January 7), however, other districts, like Bengaluru, Pune, etc. are still reporting an increase in daily cases. Soumyakanti Ghosh, the chief economic advisor at SBI, said that if other districts also impose strict measures to control the spread of the virus, the national peak may be achieved within two-three weeks… (NDTV – PTI, January 19, 2022)