Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announced on Saturday that the state would lift the COVID-19 lockdown fully as the number of new coronavirus infections in the state continues to slide downwards. On Saturday, the state’s extended lockdown will come to an end.

But as the lockdown gets lifted in the state, many residents are concerned about the third wave of COVID-19. Residents showed their disappointment and fear for the third wave by writing tweets to the Telangana CMO.

AIIMS chief Dr Randeep Guleria had told NDTV this morning that a third COVID wave in India is “inevitable”, and it might strike the nation over the next six to eight weeks, amid unlocking in areas of the country after weeks of tight regulations.

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Meanwhile, according to Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy, who spoke to news agency ANI on Friday, India’s medical system is well prepared and ready to handle a third COVID wave.

The minister had been paying a visit to the Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital in Hyderabad to inspect the temporary COVID care unit set up by Seva Bharathi, Telangana, and Saksham.

He told reporters that regardless of whether a third COVID wave occurs or not, the medical system at both the central and state levels is well prepared.

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In addition, Reddy lauded the efforts made by a number of organisations and individuals in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.