With 28% Indians Planning To Travel In Aug-Sept, Risk Of 3rd Covid Wave Set To Rise: Survey

New Delhi: Considering recently announced ease in restrictions for inter-state travel, several experts have expressed concerns over potential third wave of covid-19. While some states have ruled out the necessity to carry a negative RT-PCR test result, other states are allowing in only the vaccinated travelers or ones with a valid COVID E-Pass. This ease in travel restrictions has triggered massive movement.

In addition to this, many parts of India will have holidays for festivals like Rakhi, Janamashtmi, Muharram, Independence Day, Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi to name a few in the next two month (August, September) which will further increase the inter-state travel.

Although the daily cases in India have declined significantly for nearly two months from the 400,000 to the 40,000 range, the increased travel in next two months is feared to pose a threat of potential third COVID wave. 

LocalCircles conducted a survey to estimate the risk in light of a potential third COVID wave and to understand people’s travel plans for the coming months. 

28% Indians Planning To Travel In Aug-Sept

According to the analysis of responses gathered from more than 18,000 citizens residing in 311 districts of India, it was found that 63 per cent of citizens don’t have a plan to travel during August-September. 28 per cent citizens are planning to travel during these two months though only 5 per cent have made their bookings, and rest 9 per cent are undecided.

On being asked about what kind of personal travel do they plan to undertake in the next 2 months, 13 per cent citizens said holiday destination, 39 per cent citizens said visit to family and friends and 22 per cent said other travel. 

On the whole, the survey conducted via LocalCircles indicates that 28 per cent citizens plan to travel in August-September. Of these, 54 per cent plan to visit family and friends, 26 per cent will be travelling to holiday destinations, and 32 per cent will be undertaking other kinds of travel.

Taking a note of survey’s findings, Government must continue to create awareness amongst people about limiting non-essential travel till the time the risk of a third COVID wave greatly reduces.