Covid in India Updates: Active cases rise to 1,010, Kerala leads with over 340 cases; 19 infections in Noida

Haryana health minister Arti Singh Rao on Wednesday urged the public and healthcare officials to remain vigilant and proactive about the spread of Covid-19 infections.

She emphasized that public health and safety is the government's top priority.

Rao also said timely action and strict adherence to preventive measures can significantly curb the spread of the virus, and that there is no need to panic.

A total of 16 Covid cases have been reported in Haryana recently.

After 8 COVID-19 cases were admitted to SMS Hospital, Principal & Controller of SMS Medical College, Dr. Deepak Maheshwari says, "There has been a slight rise in COVID cases over the past few days. Around 8 cases have been reported at SMS Hospital. We are closely monitoring all respiratory and COVID-related cases. All reported cases so far are very mild. We are fully prepared with adequate testing facilities, dedicated wards, and ICUs in place. There is no need to press the panic button. We have sent all samples for genome sequencing to determine whether the infections are from old or new variants."

Thane city in Maharashtra reported 12 new coronavirus positive cases, taking its active count to 72, officials said.

Ten patients, who completed their home quarantine protocols, have recovered, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said in a statement.

"With the addition of 12 new patients on Wednesday, the COVID-19 infection count in the city has now gone up to 72," it said.

One patient with comorbidities has died since the latest wave of infection cases were reported.

Currently, 16 patients are under treatment in various hospitals across the city, while 45 patients are being treated under home quarantine, the TMC said.

The Delhi government has formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) to look into compensation pending for families who lost their kin to COVID, an official said on Wednesday.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had on Tuesday said many families who lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic were not provided any compensation.

"To address this, a special committee has been formed to identify such cases and provide financial support," she had said.

According to a senior official, a GoM has been constituted to look into such cases and a meeting of the committee is scheduled to take place in the first week of June.

Two individuals working at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) laboratory have tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said on Wednesday.

According to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Sandeep Chaudhary, both individuals are employees of the laboratory at BHU and the two had recently travelled to other states, suggesting the possibility of infection during their journeys.

"At present, both individuals are in home isolation and recovering," Dr Chaudhary said.

Health authorities have directed all government hospitals in the district to conduct testing of suspected COVID-19 cases.

Infants under two-years-old, suffering from long Covid are more likely to experience trouble sleeping, fussiness, poor appetite, stuffy nose, and cough, while children aged three to five are more likely to have a dry cough and tiredness, according to a new study in the US.

"Children with these symptoms often had worse overall health, lower quality of life, and delays in development," co-first author Tanayott Thaweethai, associate director of biostatistics research and engagement at Massachusetts General Hospital, US, said.

Long Covid refers to symptoms that persist well beyond having recovered from an acute COVID-19 infection.

A 40-year-old man who tested positive for COVID died Wednesday at the Government Medical College and Hospital Sector 32 here, an official said.

The patient, hailed from Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh, was referred from Ludhiana with respiratory issues, the official said.

He tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday and was kept in the hospital. He died early Wednesday.

This is the first case of COVID-19 in Chandigarh after the recent surge in the infection in many parts of the country.

Five more persons tested positive for Covid-19 in West Bengal, an official of the state’s health department said on Wednesday.

Three of them are recovering at home, while the rest have been admitted to hospital, he said.

"Most of them have mild symptoms," the official said.

Bengal has a total of 16 Covid-19 cases at present, the official added.

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in the district on Wednesday reported a new COVID-19 case along with the death of another patient with the viral infection.

There are now eight active COVID-19 patients within the municipal corporation's jurisdiction, it said in a release, adding that two of them are undergoing treatment in hospital.

A 67-year-old man from Dombivli who was admitted to the government hospital at Kalwa in Thane on May 25 died on Wednesday, the release said.

The man suffered from hypertension and diabetes and had not taken a COVID-19 vaccine, said the release issued by Health Officer Dr Deepa Shukla.

Four more people have tested positive for COVID in Patna, taking the total number of patients diagnosed with coronavirus infection to 10, an official said on Wednesday.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh said the level of infection is very mild in all the patients, and they were being monitored closely with all necessary protocols followed.

"Now, the total number of persons suffering from coronavirus infection in Patna is 10," he said.

"We are urging citizens to stay alert but not be alarmed as the health system is fully equipped to handle the situation," he added.

Singh said government hospitals in the city have been asked to remain prepared and ensure the availability of beds, oxygen, medicines, and vaccines.

Even with zero cases, districts like Raichur are getting ready, in case there is a Covid-19 flare up.

PTI Videos visited the special ward that has been set up in RIMS hospital in Raichur on Wednesday.

“Our hospital is ready to take care of the Covid-infected patients. We have Block A and B, and beds are ready,” said Medical Superintendent of RIMS Hospital Arvind Sagar.

Amid growing concerns over rising Covid-19 cases, Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had directed authorities to be fully prepared to handle any future situation on May 26.

Noida witnesses rise in Covid cases, total infections hit 19

Noida  on May 27 witnessed a rise in COVID cases and the number has reached to 19.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Tikam Singh says, "As of today, the total number of cases is 19, with 8 males and 11 females. The age range is between 24 and 71 years. All are in home isolation."

A 25-year-old man who recently traveled from Gurugram to Ferozepur to stay with his parents has tested positive for COVID-19, prompting health officials to begin tracing all his contacts. He has been isolated at home, and officials have urged residents not to panic as precautionary measures are underway.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India has been steadily increasing, with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala accounting for the majority of new infections. As of Tuesday night, the nation had 1,010 active cases, according to the Health Ministry.

Notably, a new virus subvariant, NB.1.8.1, was found in a Tamil Nadu sample and sent to India's genome sequencing consortium, INSACOG, for analysis. Despite the low number of cases, public health experts have cautioned, pointing to similar rising trends in a number of other nations.

This recent increase is the result of numerous factors. Read the full report

Dr. Nilakantha Mishra, Director of Public Health, Odisha, urged calm amid rising COVID-19 cases in India, stating the current strain appears mild.

Speaking to ANI, he said hospitalisations are not increasing despite the surge. “There is nothing to worry about since this strain seems very mild,” he added, advising caution without panic.

Rajasthan reported nine new Covid-19 cases, including a 16-day-old infant, in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases this year to 32. Of the newly detected cases, seven were reported in Jaipur, while two were confirmed at AIIMS Jodhpur.

The Health Department has collected samples from all the patients and sent them for genome sequencing. Health officials said that two cases were detected in AIIMS Jodhpur and an equal number tested positive in Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, Jaipur.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India reached 1,010, on May 27. According to medical experts, the symptoms are similar to cold or flu symptoms.

Amid rising sample requests in the wake of a fresh infection wave, Dr Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr Dangs Lab, said the laboratory is witnessing a surge in testing.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Dang stated that the number of samples has increased, "There has been an increase in the number of sample requests that we are receiving. But this time, we are better prepared, more informed, and we have better surveillance tools. With the scientific tests that we have, we are in a good place from the preparedness perspective to face this effectively and minimise any kind of damage that the current wave might cause."

He further said the circulating variants are subvariants of Omicron showing mild symptoms, "We must understand that the current spreading variants are again a sublineage of the Omicron virus. Additionally, in states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, we have certain other sub-variants as well that have been named as Variants Under Monitoring, and these are basically of two types, that is, LF7 and NV.1.8.1. Currently, the cases that we are seeing are more transmissible. They can infect people easily, but again, from the severity perspective, till now, we have not seen any severe cases." -- ANI

Karnataka recorded a total of 36 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, pushing the state's active cases count to 100.

According to a bulletin issued by the health department, while the positivity rate in the last 24 hours is 9.44 per cent, total tests done in Karnataka in the last 24 hours is 381. This included 361 RTPCR tests.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said doctors and health workers have been instructed to wear masks.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in the state, Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil on Tuesday said doctors and health workers have been instructed to wear masks.

He said there is no reason for the public to panic, as the government has taken all necessary precautionary measures. Speaking to reporters after a COVID-19 preparedness meeting with all the directors of state-run medical colleges and hospitals here, the minister reassured citizens, saying “COVID cases are increasing daily, but there is no need for undue worry. Pregnant women should use masks. The government is fully prepared. People should also cooperate with us,” he stated

With the national capital crossing the 100 mark in active COVID-19 cases, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday assured that the situation is under control and compared the virus to a seasonal flu. "Covid is not an emergency or alarming situation," Gupta told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

Calling it akin to a viral infection now, the chief minister said, "Just like how cold and cough happen, COVID-19 is also like a seasonal virus."

With fresh COVID-19 cases being reported in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the virus strain that is prevalent is not "serious" in nature, however precautionary measures need to be taken.

He said, officials have been instructed to take all necessary measures and to be fully prepared to deal with any situation in the future.

Karnataka Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil today provided an update on the state’s preparedness to handle COVID-19 cases, following a meeting convened by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with health officials.

Dr. Patil said, “Yesterday, the Chief Minister conducted a meeting with the health department and medical education department to review hospital preparedness. The health department has issued an advisory recommending that pregnant women, senior citizens, and individuals with comorbidities wear masks in crowded places.”

With schools reopening, the minister gave a caution, adding, “If children show symptoms such as cough or cold, they should avoid attending school.”

Dr. Patil further assured that a comprehensive meeting involving hospitals affiliated with the medical education department was held to prepare for any eventuality. “Although the severity of current COVID cases is not high, the government remains vigilant and ready to respond to any situation,” he said.

The recent surge is being driven by two new Omicron sub-variants — LF.7 and NB.1.8 — although the JN.1 strain continues to be the most prevalent across the country. Learn more about these variants.

Kerala continues to report the highest number of active Covid cases in the country, accounting for over 40 percent of the total infections, followed by Maharashtra with 210 cases and Delhi with 104.

Since May 19, India has reported six Covid-related deaths - three in Maharashtra, two in Kerala, and one in Karnataka.

Despite widespread vaccination coverage, a recent Moneycontrol analysis reveals that precautionary dose uptake remains low, with only 25 percent of eligible adults having received it.

Second dose coverage also lags behind, with just 93 percent of those who received the first dose completing the full vaccination schedule.

Telangana Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha has urged officials to closely monitor the rise in COVID-19 cases and to educate the public on necessary precautions.

According to official data, Telangana has recently reported one new COVID-19 case.

The minister convened a meeting on Monday with health officials, heads of scientific institutions, and other experts in the city. He instructed them to keep a close watch on respiratory illnesses and vector-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.

During the meeting, experts reviewed available data and ongoing research, stating that the COVID-19 situation remains under control and does not currently pose a significant public health threat, according to a release from the health minister’s office.

Meanwhile, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) confirmed that 36 COVID-19 cases have been detected in the city so far, including one death, according to an official statement from the TMC Public Relations Officer.

Out of the total cases, nine patients are hospitalised in stable condition, while 20 others are under home quarantine, the TMC note

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has reported its first COVID-19 fatality in the current outbreak, with a woman succumbing to the virus while undergoing treatment, a senior official confirmed on Monday.

Dr Deepa Shukla, in charge of the KDMC Medical Health Department, said that four COVID-19 positive patients have been detected within the KDMC limits as the virus sees a resurgence in parts of Maharashtra, including neighbouring Mumbai.

Of the four, one woman died, one patient with mild symptoms has been discharged, another is being treated at a private hospital, and the fourth has been shifted to Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital in Kalwa, Dr Shukla informed.

To handle the rise in cases, the KDMC has set up isolation rooms with ventilation support at Bai Rukminibai Hospital in Kalyan and Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also reassured citizens that the situation remains under control. “Hospitals are equipped with beds, oxygen supplies, and necessary medicines. The advisory issued is only precautionary,” she said.

Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh addressed public concerns, saying the recent cases resemble seasonal viral infections. “There’s no need to panic. Patients are mostly experiencing mild symptoms like fever, cough, and cold. Our hospitals are fully prepared,” he said.