New Delhi: The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths have declined in the last three weeks as the spread of the pandemic has stabilised in most of the states, NITI Aayog Member V K Paul said on Sunday. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a second wave of infections in the winter season.
Paul, who is also the chief of an expert panel coordinating efforts to tackle the pandemic in the country, said that once the COVID-19 vaccine is available, there will be enough resources to deliver as well as make it accessible to citizens."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 including Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal and 3-4 Union Territories (UTs), where there is still a rising trend," Paul told in an interview. He is heading the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).
According to him, India is in a somewhat better position now but the country still has a long way to go because 90 per cent of the people are still susceptible to coronavirus infections.When asked about the chance of the second wave of coronavirus infections in the winter in India, Paul said that with the onset of winter, countries across Europe have reported a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. "We cannot rule out a second coronavirus wave this winter in India. Things can happen and we are still learning about the virus," Paul noted.
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He stressed on COVID-19-appropriate behaviour during festival season and winter months."In winter season there will be an increase in pollution in north India owing to the festival season, so we have to be very careful. Upcoming months pause challenge. One would be worried that one could lose the gains that one have made," Paul said. He also cautioned against any complacency about the decline in the number of new cases and called for keeping up the efforts to contain the pandemic. "If we do not take precaution and act careless, it will lead to escalation. God forbid, but we can avoid it. This is in our hand, whether India is hit by another wave or not is our responsibility," the Niti Aayog member said.
