Kerala banks on genomic surveillance data

To watch out for possible new SARS-CoV-2 variants, changes in disease patterns

As anxiety over a possible third wave of COVID-19 escalates, Kerala is banking on real time genomic surveillance data to watch out for the emergence of possible new SARS-CoV-2 variants or any changes in disease patterns amongst various groups in the community that might signal a potential change in disease transmission. The first wave of COVID never really ended and transmission continued at low levels — 2,500 daily cases — till March this year when relaxations in COVID protocols, election campaigning, and primarily the arrival of new virus variants in the State led to a sudden and massive surge in the epidemic curve. While preparing the health system ahead for managing a third wave could be an opportunity to improve the State’s health infrastructure, the third wave is neither inevitable nor is it expected to be more vicious than the second wave.