Several states have been witnessing a gradual rise in COVID-19 cases this past week, with health authorities confirming that most of the recent infections remain mild in nature.
The uptick has been observed particularly in southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana, as well as in Delhi and Maharashtra.
Amid the rising cases, the Union Health Secretary, on Saturday, chaired a high-level review meeting with top officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The meeting focused on containment efforts and surveillance strategies to track the virus’s spread.
The Health Ministry said that while fresh cases are being reported from multiple urban centres, including Delhi, Noida, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thane, Indore, and Rishikesh, most of these are being managed through home isolation and do not require hospitalisation. Recent fatalities in Thane and Bengaluru were linked to severe comorbidities and not the virulence of the virus.
According to officials of the Ministry, the situation is under control, with surveillance systems like the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR’s respiratory virus sentinel network continuously monitoring the spread.
The Ministry reiterated that there is no reason for panic at this stage.
According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), one case of the NB.1.8.1 variant and four cases of the LF.7 variant have been detected in India. Both are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs) as of May 2025. While these variants have seen a surge in cases in China and other parts of Asia, as of now, there is no evidence to indicate increased transmissibility or severity.
The JN.1 subvariant continues to be the dominant strain, accounting for 53 percent of sequenced samples, followed by BA.2 (26 percent) and other Omicron sublineages (20 percent).
State-wise updates
Karnataka: The state has recorded 38 COVID-19 cases this year, with 32 in Bengaluru alone.
While Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirmed a marginal rise, he also said there was no need for alarm.
An 84-year-old man with comorbidities died, and a nine-month-old baby boy, currently stable, tested positive on May 22 and is being treated at Vani Vilas Hospital.
Maharashtra: Thane reported eight new cases on Saturday. The city currently has 18 active cases.
A COVID-positive patient with severe diabetes succumbed to the infection, as per health officials.
Delhi: The national capital saw 23 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, marking its highest single-day count in nearly three years.
The Delhi government has issued an advisory directing hospitals to ensure readiness in terms of beds, oxygen supply, medicines, and vaccines. All patients are reportedly stable and under home quarantine.
Uttar Pradesh: Noida recorded a case involving a 55-year-old woman, who is in home isolation. In Ghaziabad, four new infections have been detected, prompting enhanced surveillance.
Uttarakhand: AIIMS Rishikesh confirmed three new infections, including a woman doctor and a tourist from Gujarat.
State Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar stated that the cases originated from outside Uttarakhand. With the Chardham Yatra underway, health teams have been deployed along the route and genome sequencing has been initiated.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Andhra Pradesh logged four new cases, three from Visakhapatnam and one from the Rayalaseema region. Telangana reported one case in Hyderabad. The patient, a pulmonologist, has since recovered.
The Health Ministry continues to monitor the nationwide situation. It has reassured the public that current variants do not show signs of increased transmissibility or severity compared to earlier strains.
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