The study also stated that Delta variant was 30-70% more transmissible than previous SARS-CoV-2 lineages & the 2020 Covid outbreak in Delhi was unrelated to any variant of concern.
New variants like Delta, which are more transmissible and have been shown to evade protections in some cases, are moving the bar for herd immunity near impossibly high levels.
Experts say the biggest mistake was allowing the virus to travel freely into the rural areas, adding that eradication of the virus now is too far-fetched an idea.
While Covid-19 has been a catastrophe, it’s also an unprecedented opportunity, given the visible public health ravages, to change minds and prove the value of vaccines.
AIIMS director Randeep Guleria said one should not think of herd immunity in 'practical terms' in India, especially in the times of 'variant strains' of Covid-19 and varying immunity.
Covid-19 in Manaus peaked in April-May 2020 and then developed a supposed 76% herd immunity by October, but the Brazilian city is now besieged by a second wave.
Evidence is compelling that a robust and rapid vaccination campaign could render Covid less of a threat than seasonal flu through building herd immunity.
Driving an electric vehicle for months, the Hyundai IONIQ5, BMW iX and now the Kia Carens Clavis electric, has convinced me of the viability of EVs for city and mid-range commutes.
With the US-India trade deal yet to get done, rupee depreciation may be helping to mitigate India’s loss of competitiveness. The other problem is extreme despondence among overseas equity investors.
Of the total package, $649 million will be utilised for additional hardware, software, and support services, and the remaining for Major Defence Equipment (MDE).
Don’t blame misfortune. This is colossal incompetence and insensitivity. So bad, heads would have rolled even in the old PSU-era Indian Airlines and Air India.
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