However, the discovery of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK has raised an alarm, prompting several countries to reimpose travel restrictions. Much also depends on the vaccination program. The longer it takes to immunize the entire population, the longer it will take to develop herd immunity in the population.
Here’s a look at the status of the coronavirus in India:
Lowest cases in six months
The Health Ministry said the number of new cases per day fell below 19,000 after six months. A total of 18,732 were added to the national tally in the last week.
The ministry said that 76.52% of the new cases are concentrated in 10 states and UT.
Lowest deaths in six months
On Saturday, deaths remained below 300 for the second day in a row, and 280 deaths were reported. The daily death toll from Covid-19 in India fell below 300 for the first time since June 9. On December 25, there were 253 deaths, the lowest number in more than six months.
Most states also reported a drop in deaths compared to the previous day.
Higher recovery rate
The new daily recoveries registered in the country have been higher than the daily cases registered since the last 29 days. The overall Covid-19 recovery rate improved to 95.77% on Friday.
For the first time, Dharavi of Mumbai, Asia’s largest slum and one of the worst-affected areas in the country, reported no positive cases on Friday.
The accumulated recovered cases amount to 97,82,669. The gap between recovered and active cases is also steadily increasing
A statement from the Health Ministry stated that India’s cumulative recoveries are the highest in the world. After the national search, all states / UT have a recovery rate of more than 90%, the ministry said.
Lowest active cases in almost six months
The number of active cases in the country fell to almost 278,000 on Sunday, the lowest level after 170 days, the Union Health Ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry said the country has reported a sustained downward trend in the number of active cases.
“India’s current active case load consists of only 2.74% of the total positive cases in India,” he said.
When will herd immunity be achieved?
The pace and scope of the immunization program will decide how quickly herd immunity will develop.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it could take up to 90% of the US population to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity against coronavirus.
The figures for India would definitely be different, however once the immunization program begins it is expected to have an impact on the transmissibility of the virus as well.
Vaccine ready for implementation
The central government implemented dry trials for the Covid-19 vaccine in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab on Monday.
The government has already trained the participants who will administer the vaccine.
Detailed training modules have been developed for different categories of vaccine handlers and administrators, including medical officers, vaccinators, alternate vaccinators, cold chain handlers, supervisors, data managers, ASHA coordinators, and everyone else involved in the implementation process at different levels, human resource capacity for the introduction and deployment of vaccines.
Will there be a second wave?
Much of Europe is already witnessing an increase in cases, signaling the arrival of the second wave. In India, most states have been able to prevent the second wave of the pandemic. In the five most affected states, the increase in the number of cases is not as pronounced as it was seen at the beginning of the pandemic.
However, an increase in mobility on New Year’s Eve and the news of the arrival of the vaccine can make people complacent, causing a sudden spike in cases.
New strain of coronavirus
There is fear that the new strain of coronavirus will restart the fight against the pandemic. The new strain of the new coronavirus detected fifteen days ago in the United Kingdom has undergone a mutation 24 times in recent months. It is 70% more transmissible than the original virus.
Although scientists say the new vaccine would work effectively on the new strain of the virus, speculation persists.
The new strain has caused a surge in Covid-19 cases by 300%. Simply put, it is three times more infectious than its cousin behind the pandemic.
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