Challenges remain, but signs of hope emerge in India

"This is an extraordinary situation that the entire country is grappling with."

Debabrata Mitra, a doctor, said, "Such is the scale of the virus' impact－and the unpredictability of the harm it can do to humans, economies and society－that we do not really know yet what we must do.

"About 70 percent to 80 percent of patients are asymptomatic－which means they are potent carriers of the virus. That is very worrying," he added.

Another concern is that scores of people with severe diseases, including cancer, are not getting urgent and adequate medical attention in such challenging times.

With the number of infections and deaths mounting, many wards in Indian hospitals－both government and private－have been converted into coronavirus units.

Cases of doctors and nurses becoming infected with the virus are rising daily. "Worse, they face being socially ostracized despite trying their best with limited resources," Mitra said.

Maharashtra, a business hub with high-density populations in urban areas, has reported the most cases in India.

Jameel said, "However, now the situation in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat is also not looking good."