India past COVID peak, says DST panel

India passed its COVID peak in September and, if current trends continue, there will be “minimal cases” by February. These are the findings of a modelling study by a seven-member expert panel on the future course of the pandemic, commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology.

This, however, is premised on no spikes being triggered by festivals or mutations in the virus aiding its spread in winter.

Scientists associated with the study said there would be no gains from lockdowns or from measures harsher than those in place now. A complete shutdown should be considered only at sub-district levels if there is a spike that threatens local healthcare capacity, they said. – Jacob Koshy