India’s covid cases at the lowest since 2020

livemint.com:

New Delhi: India’s daily covid-19 tally dropped to a record low, not seen since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, as per data from the union health ministry on Monday. The country reported only 24 new infections in the past 24 hours, marking the smallest count since the first reported case in January 2020. A consistent downturn in cases has been observed over several months.

Currently, India’s active cases tally stands at 1,431, bringing the total caseload to over 450 million since the pandemic began. The deadly virus has taken approximately 531,913 lives in the country over the past three and a half years. Scientific consensus suggests that covid-19 remains relatively dormant due to its milder nature and widespread acquired immunity in the population.

However, experts warn that potential new mutants displaying severe symptoms should be closely monitored. Empty covid wards across Indian hospitals reflect the downtrend in cases, a significant relief for healthcare professionals. Yet, the elderly and individuals with comorbidities remain at risk.

These groups are urged to receive booster doses, if not yet administered, and continue adherence to covid-19 safety protocols. Meanwhile, scientists point to a developed hybrid immunity among the Indian populace, attributing it to both vaccination and prior infection. They maintain that existing variants are unlikely to cause severe hospitalizations due to their milder nature.