New Delhi: India is witnessing a renewed rise in Covid-19 cases, with active infections reaching 2,710, sparking concern among health officials and prompting renewed readiness reviews across the country.
Although the situation remains mild and manageable, the emergence of new sub-variants and regional spikes have placed the spotlight once again on India’s pandemic response system.
Seven deaths have also been recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the toll in the first five months of this year to 22. Maharashtra has reported two deaths, while Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have registered one each in a day. This is the first death recorded in Delhi in the current wave, reported India Today.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the states leading the fresh surge include Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Gujarat.
- Kerala: 1,147 active cases, with 227 new infections reported.
- Maharashtra: 424 active cases; reported 76 new cases and two deaths.
- Delhi: 294 active cases; 56 new infections and one death recorded.
- Gujarat: 223 active cases; one death reported.
- Tamil Nadu & Karnataka: 148 active cases each.
- West Bengal: 116 active cases after 59 fresh infections.
A total of seven deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, raising the national Covid death toll for 2025 to 22 so far. Health authorities have linked the current uptick to the detection of two new sub-variants: NB.1.8.1 and LF.7. These are currently listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “Variants Under Monitoring”, not yet classified as variants of concern.
These variants have genetic distinctions from earlier strains and are being closely tracked for transmissibility and severity. Despite the rise in cases, officials have emphasized that the severity remains low and that existing protocols are sufficient for containment.
Delhi, which now has 294 active cases, has taken a cautious yet proactive approach. On May 23, the Delhi government issued an advisory to hospitals to ensure readiness. Hospitals have been directed to maintain adequate beds, oxygen supply, essential medications, and operational equipment such as ventilators and BiPAP machines.
The city recorded one death—a 60-year-old woman with pre-existing complications—highlighting the vulnerability of high-risk groups. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta assured the public that the government has the situation under control, urging against panic.
Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav confirmed that the central government is fully prepared to tackle any rise in cases. “Our Health and AYUSH ministries are alert and closely monitoring the situation across all states. We’ve reviewed infrastructure such as oxygen plants and ICU capacity built during earlier waves,” he told ANI.
He added that preparations are underway, including equipment checks, supply stockpiling, and coordinated communication with state health departments.
China recorded over 168,000 cases in April, with rising hospital positivity and the dominant strains XDV and XDV.1, known for immune evasion. Thailand: Logged over 187,000 cases and 44 deaths between January and mid-May. The Songkran festival in April is suspected to have contributed to the surge.
Singapore and Australia: Also reporting case increases, prompting the WHO to urge continued surveillance and testing.
Despite the rise in numbers, experts and officials emphasize that the majority of cases are mild. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and state health departments have assured that hospitalization rates remain low, and no large-scale restrictions are being considered at this stage.
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