India's active Covid-19 case count nears 6,000 with 391 new infections; Kerala, Delhi lead surge

NEW DELHI, June 7: India's active cases of Covid-19 yet saw another increase over the past 24 hours, data from the Union Ministry of Health revealed on Saturday as the grip of the coronavirus continued to rise over the past few weeks.

The number of active Covid-19 cases neared the 6,000 mark over the past 24 hours, data showed on Saturday. India's number of active Covid-19 cases has increased to 5,755 in the past day, the Covid dashboard of the health ministry revealed.

India has reported 391 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, according to the data. This is a drop from the 498 cases that the country recorded on Friday.

The number of Covid-19 patients who have been discharged over the past 24 hours were recorded at 760. This is a decrease from the 764 recoveries recorded on Friday.

As many as four people died due to Covid-related issues over the past day, according to the data. The deaths were reported from Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, a pregnant 45-year-old woman died in the hospital after she started having intrapartum seizures after which she became intubated. She later tested Covid-19 positive. Another 59-year-old man in Kerala with lung cancer passed away. The two other patients who died were over 60 years of age and had comorbidities.

Kerala recorded most number of Covid-19 cases on Saturday at 127, while one person died in the state. This was followed by Gujarat and Delhi.

Gujarat recorded 183 new coronavirus positive cases on Saturday, taking the active count in the state to 822, the health department said. However, no death was reported in the past 24 hours. All the cases which are emerging in Gujarat are of JN.1, LF.7, LF.7.9 and XFG variants of the Omicron family, which causes mild fever and cough, the health department said.

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 86 new cases, taking the total count since January to 1,362. Of these new cases, 31 were detected in Pune city and two in its rural parts and 28 tested positive in Mumbai, an official statement said.

4 new Covid-19 deaths in India, active toll nears 4,000

NEW DELHI, June 2: As of 8 am today, India's active COVID-19 cases now stand at 3,961, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW).

The daily bulletin also noted that 203 new cases were added to the official tally on June 1, taking the total near 4,000. Further, overall, since January 2025, the death toll due to COVID-19 is at 32, with four new deaths reported on Sunday, it added.

Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Kerala each reported one COVID-19 death since Sunday. Delhi reported 47 more COVID-19 cases, increasing the total active cases in the national capital to 483.

In Kerala, active COVID-19 cases rose to 1,435, with 35 new cases reported since Sunday. In Maharashtra, 21 new COVID-19 cases were reported, taking the active case count to 506. In West Bengal, 44 new COVID-19 cases were reported, increasing the state's active cases to 331.

India's Covid Cases Rise To Nearly 3,000, These States Are Worst Hit

NEW DELHI, May 31: India's active coronavirus cases have risen to nearly 3,000, with Kerala fighting the latest resurgence of infections - followed by Maharashtra, and Delhi. Official data shows a quick rise in the cases within four days. While India recorded a total of 1,010 cases by May 26, the official data by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shows a total of 2,710 infections as of May 30.

According to the data, Kerala has recorded 1,147 cases, Maharashtra 424, Delhi 294, and Gujarat 223. Tamil Nadu has recorded a total of 148 cases so far, while Karnataka and West Bengal have reported 148 and 116 cases, respectively.

Rajasthan has reported 51 cases, Uttar Pradesh 42, Puducherry 25, Haryana 20, Andhra Pradesh 16, Madhya Pradesh 10, Goa seven, and Odisha, Punjab, and Jammu Kashmir four each. Three states - Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh have reported three cases each, while Mizoram and Assam have two people detected with the infection each so far.

No active case has been reported from Andaman and Nicobar, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh. The official data for Bihar is not yet available.

Data suggested at least seven died in recent weeks across India. Two people who died in Maharashtra (1) and Delhi (1) had other severe ailments along with Covid-19. However, it is not yet clear whether others died due to the infection.

All people who died, except for the one in Punjab, were senior citizens, officials said.

However, officials have said that the coronavirus cases are mild in nature and there is no need to panic.

Earlier this week, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said the agencies are watching what is unfolding, and stressed the need to be vigilant.

"The public need not worry about this new variant of Covid-19. We just need to be vigilant. The government and all the agencies are watching what is unfolding. According to me, the basic precautions should be taken. We are not talking about enhanced precautions right now. But if someone is a cancer patient or has immunity problems, then we generally advise them to avoid any infection. Precautions need to be taken," he said.

In India, the most common Covid-19 variant remains JN.1, comprising 53 per cent of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26%) and other Omicron sublineages (20%), according to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). However, the recent cases have seen at least one case of the new highly contagious NB.1.8.1 variant, and at least four cases of the LF.7 variant, the report said.

As of this month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs), not as Variants of Concern (VOCs) or Variants of Interest (VOIs). But these variants are reportedly driving the rise in Covid cases in China and some other parts of Asia.

Delhi logs 23 fresh Covid cases, asks hospitals to keeps beds, oxygen ready in advisory

NEW DELHI, May 23: The Delhi government on Friday issued an advisory on the Covid-19 disease, asking hospitals in the national capital to ensure the availability of beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines.

Delhi health minister Pankaj Singh on Friday informed that 23 fresh Covid cases have been reported in the city, adding that the government is verifying details of the infections to determine if patients are residents of city or have travel history.

The advisory comes amid rise in cases in countries like China, Thailand and Singapore in recent weeks.

All health institutions have been asked to send all positive Covid-19 samples for genome sequencing to Lok Nayak Hospital.

“The hospitals must ensure preparedness in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, other drugs and vaccines. All equipment such as ventilators, Bi-PAP, oxygen concentrators and PSA must be in functional condition,” it stated.

The health department said that daily reporting of all parameters must also be done on the Delhi state health data management Portal.

Mild infections have been reported from several parts of India. According to the Union health ministry, a total of 257 cases were reported across the country on Wednesday.

Maharashtra reported 56 Covid cases, while Tamil Nadu logged 66. Infections were also detected in Puducherry, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Haryana, Karnataka, and West Bengal.

Kerala health minister Veena George on Friday said the state reported 273 Covid-19 cases in May. The highest number was in Kottayam with 82 cases, followed by Thiruvananthapuram with 73, Ernakulam with 49, Pathanamthitta with 30, and Thrissur with 26, she said.

On Friday, Haryana reported four new covid cases, which were reported to be mild, and the concerned individuals have been kept under home observation with medical supervision. Health minister Arti Singh Rao assured that there is no need for panic and added that the state government is closely monitoring the situation.

On May 19, experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, Emergency Medical Relief division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research and central government hospitals held a review meeting chaired by the director general of health services regarding the recent uptick in Covid-19 cases.

“The meeting concluded that the current Covid-19 situation in India remains under control. As of May 19, 2025, the number of active Covid-19 cases in India stands at 257, a very low figure considering the country's large population. Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalisation required,” said an official.

Fresh Covid wave hits China and Thailand as cases surge across Asia

NEW DELHI, May 17: A fresh wave of COVID-19 infections is sweeping across parts of Southeast and East Asia, with Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand all reporting a noticeable uptick in cases. While the situation varies from country to country, the general trend is clear: the virus is once again on the move. But is this cause for concern?

Where are cases rising?

Hong Kong

Health officials have confirmed that Hong Kong is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19. The percentage of respiratory samples testing positive has jumped from 1.7% in March to 11.4%—even higher than during the August 2024 peak. Serious cases and deaths are primarily among the elderly with underlying health conditions.

Singapore

Singapore has seen a 28% spike in COVID cases in early May, with weekly infections rising to 14,200 and daily hospitalisations increasing by about 30%. The health ministry attributes this to waning immunity rather than more dangerous variants.

China

China’s COVID numbers are climbing again, nearing the peak levels seen during last summer’s wave. Testing positivity rates have more than doubled in recent weeks, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thailand

In Thailand, cases have risen following the Songkran festival in April. Two cluster outbreaks have been reported, and health authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Why are cases going Up?

The most likely explanation is waning immunity. As more time passes since people received their last vaccine dose or had a natural infection, their protection against the virus—especially against mild or moderate illness—fades.

In Singapore, many people seeking treatment for COVID symptoms reportedly haven't had a booster in over a year. This pattern may be similar in other countries as well.

There’s no evidence so far that new variants—such as LF.7 and NB.1.8, both related to JN.1—are more severe or more transmissible than previous strains.

What are health authorities saying?

Vaccinations and Boosters: Countries are encouraging at-risk individuals, especially seniors or those with chronic health conditions, to get booster shots if they haven’t done so recently.

Precautionary Measures: People are advised to take simple steps like hand hygiene, wearing masks in crowded areas, and staying home if feeling unwell.

No Alarms Yet: Authorities are not signaling major concern. There are no new restrictions or emergency measures. So far, health systems are coping well.

So, should you be worried?
Not necessarily.

If you are healthy, vaccinated, and not in a high-risk group, the current wave is being treated much like a seasonal flu surge. Most infections are mild, and people recover without complications.

However, if you are older, immunocompromised, or have underlying conditions, you should consider getting a booster if it’s been more than a year since your last dose. Wearing a mask in busy indoor settings and avoiding travel when sick are also smart precautions.

The bottom line

COVID-19 hasn’t gone away—it’s become an endemic virus, like the flu, that causes periodic waves. The current spike in Asia is a reminder to stay vigilant, but there’s no need to panic. With updated vaccines, common-sense precautions, and robust healthcare responses, this wave is being managed carefully.