Doctors on alert as Covid cases rise: How Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat are responding to regional surge

Doctor

Health authorities are keeping a close watch on a modest yet noticeable rise in Covid-19 cases across several Indian states, even as overall numbers remain low compared to previous waves. The uptick comes as parts of Asia, including Hong Kong and Singapore, report a resurgence of infections.
Cities such as Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad have seen a small but significant surge, prompting local officials to step up surveillance and precautionary measures, according to a TOI report.

Covid cases in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, Mumbai has emerged as a concern, reporting 95 new Covid-19 cases in May — a marked rise given that the state has recorded just 106 cases since January, according to the Maharashtra health department.

Sixteen people have been hospitalised, with most being shifted from KEM Hospital to Seven Hills Hospital to reduce potential in-hospital transmission. Authorities are testing all patients presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) for Covid-19, TOI reported.

Maharashtra has recorded two Covid-19-related deaths since January this year, the state health department said on Tuesday. According to an official release, both fatalities occurred in Mumbai and involved patients who had underlying health conditions (comorbidities).

In Pune, there are currently no active Covid-19 cases in public hospitals, but the Pune Municipal Corporation has reserved 50 beds at Naidu Hospital as a precaution.

“We had only one patient in May — an 87-year-old from Manjari — who has since fully recovered,” said Dr Nina Borade, health chief at PMC, was quoted by TOI as saying. She added that testing is currently not being carried out in civic hospitals and the city is awaiting updated guidelines from the Centre.

Covid cases in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is also seeing a rise, with 12 new cases reported in Puducherry. In Chennai, doctors say that cases initially attributed to seasonal flu are increasingly turning out to be Covid-19.
“Two weeks ago, 60% of our positive samples were influenza A or B. Now, it’s Covid-19,” said Dr Subramaniam Swaminathan, infectious diseases expert at Gleneagles Healthcity, speaking to TOI.

Some hospitals have delayed elective surgeries, including organ transplants and heart procedures, to minimise the risk of infection during the current wave.

Dr T S Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health, said while there is no cause for alarm, people should remain cautious in crowded spaces. “Covid-19 never truly disappeared — it has been circulating at low levels with seasonal peaks,” he was quoted by TOI.

Covid cases in Karnataka

In Karnataka, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirmed 16 active Covid-19 cases in the state.
Ahmedabad in Gujarat reported an unusual daily spike of seven new cases — a significant jump in a city that had been averaging just one case per month for the past year. All patients are in home isolation and their samples have been sent for genomic testing, health authorities said.

Though the World Health Organization declared the pandemic over in May 2023, Covid-19 remains in circulation globally. Experts have recommend influenza vaccinations to help reduce the severity and risk of co-infections during this seasonal spike. TOI quoted a senior officialas saying that the virus hasn't gone anywhere, has become endemic and should be treated like any other seasonal illness — but with continued vigilance.

Doctors are advising vulnerable individuals - including the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions - to return to basic preventive measures such as wearing masks in enclosed or crowded settings and frequent handwashing.