Scientists report consistent decline in covid cases
On Monday, around 492 new covid cases were reported across the country. The number of active cases reached 7,623 according to the health ministry data.
PremiumNew Delhi: With India reporting between 600-900 covid cases daily, scientists at the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) said there has been a consistent decline in the infection rate across the country. Right now, Omicron’s three different variants—XBB.1.16, XBB and BA.2— are in circulation.
The positivity rate has also declined to 0.64%. On Monday, around 492 new covid cases were reported across the country. The number of active cases reached 7,623 according to the health ministry data.
“Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the dominant variants in India. XBB.1.16, XBB and BA.2 are continuing to circulate. However, cases are falling rapidly across the country since May," said a scientist.
India started to see covid surge in February due to XBB.1.16 variant which hit its peak during mid-March to mid-April.
Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman National IMA covid Task Force (Cochin Chapter) said, “Covid is a cyclical disease. It will keep coming and going. There are multiple factors involved in covid surge from time to time. First is decrease in the population immunity (both vaccine & infection derived immunity). So, the circulating antibody level drops not only in the blood but also in the mucous membrane. Collectively when this happens on a community scale, the virus finds it easier to circulate. Second is that the virus is constantly evolving, and the XBB series is a recombinant series which has never happened on this scale before.
“The third factor is people’s movement and behavioural change in following covid preventive measures, and the last factor is favourable weather pattern. The good part is that this time the hospitals were not over-burdened, and case fatality is less."
Queries sent to the health ministry did not elicit any response.
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