PremiumEven with COVID-19 cases declining steadily, experts says zero figure in Delhi is unlikely. However, they have predicted that coronavirus will be reduced to an endemic in the future.
Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital said there will always be a few cases of the virus. "Zero is an unlikely figure. The virus is mutating and it is difficult to predict it's future behaviour," he said.
Echoing a similar view, Dr Sanjeev K. Singh, Resident Medical Director, Amrita Hospitals in Faridabad said it is an mRNA virus which keeps changing its structure.
"These virus are smart and just for the sake of living, it will keep mutating. Covid will be there and may not be affecting all 193 countries but it will be there."
"Coming down to zero won't be achievable. In hospitals for getting surgeries, one has to get tested for Hepatitis and HIV. Eventually, you will be tested for Covid too," he said.
Dr Gauri Agarwal, IVF expert and founder of Seeds of Innocence said keeping the 1918 pandemic as a yardstick, we know that eradicating the virus is an unrealistic possibility.
"As COVID-19 gradually becomes an endemic, likely in 12-24 months, it will probably stop being a statistic that is being watched on a daily basis. Hence, while we may see zero reportable cases, there may never be a time with actual zero cases ever."
Cronavirus will become an endemic in days to come
Amid concerns over the possibility of a third wave and emergence of the Delta Plus variant, experts assuaged fears of that possible wave being more lethal since a majority of the population has been infected.
"In my view, if a new strain doesn't come up against which the vaccines are not effective, I don't think the third wave will be as lethal as the second wave," said Dr Rajesh Chawla, Senior Pulmonologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.
He highlighted that coronavirus will become an endemic in days to come.
Agreeing with Chawla, Dr. Rommel Tickoo, Director, Internal Medicine, Max Healthcare, said we are still in the second Covid wave.
"Seventy per cent of the cases are limited to Maharashtra, and southern states. In north Indian states, there was a sudden exponential increase and the virus infected a large number of people together which is why the steady decline.
"The effect of the virus will be blunted because of the majority of people being exposed to the virus and vaccination," he added.
The Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain had said last year that one will have to learn with coronavirus and make its prevention norms a part of our lives.
Delhi COVID update
Delhi on Friday reported two new COVID-19-related deaths, the lowest since March 16, the city health bulletin said. It further noted that as many as 93 new cases were reported today. The positivity rate in the city stands at 0.13%
As many as 407 patients recovered in the last 24 hours as the recoveries again outnumbered the new cases.
With the fresh cases on Friday, Delhi's COVID-19 caseload has increased to 14,34,374. The death toll stands at 24,983, it said, adding that the case fatality rate is 1.74 per cent.
The national capital had recorded four COVID-19-related deaths and 91 cases on Thursday with a positivity rate of 0.12 per cent. On Wednesday, as many as 94 Covid cases were recorded at a positivity rate of 0.12 per cent and six fatalities were logged.
(With inputs from agencies
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!