Why are Covid cases falling in India?
Two months ago, India looked like a coronavirus disaster zone, with nearly 100,000 new infections a day and deaths shooting up. Today, reported infections, deaths and the share of people testing positive have all fallen significantly.
The country reached a high point of nearly 98,000 daily infections on Sept. 16, but dropped to about 46,000 cases on average per day this past week. The number of daily virus deaths has fallen from 1,200 in mid-September to about 500 today.
Some researchers say the cases aren’t really falling and the lower numbers may be explained by a change in testing. They argue that less reliable tests are being used more frequently, and fewer tests are being administered over all.
Mobility data shows that Indians have returned to shopping areas and public spaces. Many are not wearing masks. A large chunk of the population seems resigned to the threat of infection. In many places, said one cardiologist, “people are partying like there is no tomorrow.”
Experts generally agree that the number of infections has far outstripped efforts to track them in India, and that infections in the country may still get considerably worse.
The New York Times