The number of new coronavirus infection cases and fatalities has decreased in the last three weeks in India, said NITI Aayog member VK Paul on Sunday pointing to a possibility of a second wave of covid-19 during the winters.
Paul, who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 citing the resurgence cases in Europe said that the second wave of coronavirus in India cannot be eliminated. He added that a second coronavirus wave this winter cannot be ruled out. “Things can happen and we are still learning about the virus.”
According to Paul, India is in a somewhat better position now but the country still has a long way to go because 90% of the people are still susceptible to coronavirus infections.
Paul added once a vaccine against the covid infection is available, there will be enough resources to deliver as well as make it accessible to every corner of the county.
“In India, the new coronavirus cases and the number of deaths have declined in the last three weeks and the pandemic has stabilised in most of the states. However, there are five states (Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal) and 3-4 Union Territories (UTs), where there is still a rising trend,” Paul said.
Clarifying on the storing of the vaccine, he said India has enough cold storage facilities to an extent and this can be readily augmented as required.
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“Once the vaccine is available, there will be enough resources for delivering vaccines and making vaccines accessible to the citizens and there will be no concern about resources under those circumstances,” Paul said.
India’s COVID-19 tally has gone up to 7,494,551, after 61,871 new cases and 1,033 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. India is the second worst-hit country in the world in terms of numbers of infections with a death toll now standing at 114,031, according to the health ministry.