The committee also said that 30 percent of the population in India has already developed immunity to the virus.
A government-appointed panel of scientists and doctors stated on Sunday that India has crossed the COVID-19 peak and will be able to control the spread of the virus by end of February 2021.
The committee also said that 30 percent of the population in India has already developed immunity to the virus. The committee also warned that there might be a spike in COVID-19 cases with the onset of winters and the upcoming festive season, adding that a COVID-19 second wave is a possibility in the winter.
Meanwhile, Niti Aayog Member V K Paul said that COVID-19 cases and deaths witnessed a decline in last three weeks.
“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," he said.
“However, there are five states (Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal) and 3-4 Union Territories (UTs), where there is still a rising trend,” Paul added.
In a reassuring remark, V K Paul said that the country has enough resources to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine once it is made available.
Three vaccines are in advanced stages of development in India, out of which 2 are in Phase II and one is in Phase-III. Indian Scientists and Research Teams are collaborating and strengthening the research capacities in neighbouring countries viz., Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
With over 61,000 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count on Sunday (October 18) crossed the 74 lakh-mark, while the death toll has topped the 1 lakh-mark as well.
At 9:30 AM on this day, the COVID-19 tally in the country has reached 74,94,552 cases, which include 7,83,311 active cases; 65,97,210 cured, discharged, or migrated patients, and 1,14,031 deaths.
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as many as 61,871 new COVID-19 cases and 1033 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours.
Total coronavirus cases in the worst-hit state of Maharashtra have crossed the 15.86-lakh mark.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Representational image")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}