In another sigh of relief in our protracted fight against COVID, the number of fresh cases across India dipped below the 1,000 mark on Sunday for the first time in nearly two years. The seven-day rolling average of daily infections in the country is also set to drop below that level in a few days. This low was last recorded in April 2020, prior to our first wave. It is true that the previous fall proved misleading in their relief. Before the second wave, our daily average for the week dropped to a five-digit low. Late last year, we saw a high four points on the eve of the third wave. But the three digit count will be refreshing.
A large proportion of adults who have been vaccinated, there is cause for comfort, with approximately 1.9 billion doses given. Also, the COVID immunity that natural exposure has given us may well give us. Today’s most infectious pathogen is also mild. Still, as vaccines are known to protect against and the virus can mutate, it is best not to declare another victory prematurely. Such an error had dire consequences in early 2021, as our worst outbreak caught us on guard. Other Asian countries are struggling to suppress the resurgence. As we do for normalcy, this pandemic will not end until it is over.
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