Why are India’s COVID-19 cases flaring up so sharply? There are no clear answers but top scientists say the complex interplay of mutant strains, a hugely susceptible population made more vulnerable by elections and other public events and the lowering of guard are primarily to blame.

Virologist Shahid Jameel said the interplay of mutants and vaccines over the next couple of months will decide the future of COVID-19 in India and the world.  “The intensity of the surge also suggests that there were a huge number of susceptible people after the first wave,” said the director, Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University, Haryana.