Rural India, especially, has been notorious for undesirable levels of insanitation. The unhygienic conditions have resulted in the spread of infections like TB for decades.

However, as per a study of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), lack of hygiene may be helping India tide over the pandemic. "The less than desirable hygiene levels have likely helped Indians fight Covid-19 better," the study says. It adds that countries with "poor hygiene and low quality of water" have seen low COVID-related fatality rates. As per the study, countries with a higher GDP have seen more deaths per million population.

CSIR's researchers have stated that "high parasite and bacterial disease burden" in countries like India have led to the building of immunity.

In all, the study considered 25 parameters, including life expectancy. The more the life expectancy, the greater is the fatality rate due to coronavirus.