Don't panic, stay vigilant, doctors say as Covid cases spike after a gap

Indian Express

21-05-2025

As Maharashtra has this year reported over 100 coronavirus cases, most of them in May, doctors have urged people not to panic, emphasising that Covid is now endemic but they can protect themselves by remaining vigilant and taking the right precautions.
While Pune has officially reported one case of an 87-year-old man who had complained of cough, fever and breathlessness and tested positive for coronavirus disease, he has been successfully treated and discharged.
Dr Nina Borade, Medical Officer of Health, Pune Municipal Corporation, said routine testing was not usually necessary for mild symptoms like common cold and cough. 'However it is important to take extra precautions around persons at high risk who have comorbid medical conditions and are immunocompromised,' Dr Borade told The Indian Express.
There are no active cases now in Pune, Dr Borade added.
Directives have been issued to reserve 50 beds at Naidu Hospital in case of a rise in cases. Private hospitals have been directed to report cases to the municipal health authorities.
'We have yet to receive updated guidelines from the Centre and the state on the Covid-19 situation,' a PMC official said.
Pune city has reported 6.95 lakh Covid cases and 9,431 deaths since 2020. Data from PMC health authorities shows that there has been a decline in cases since 2020. However, the number of samples tested has also reduced in the past few years. In 2020 there were 1.78 lakh cases and 4,631 deaths, while there were 3.31 lakh cases of Covid and 4,485 deaths in 2021. There were 1.8 lakh cases and 294 deaths in 2022, while the cases fell to 3,235 and deaths to 16 in 2023. In 2024 there were 566 cases of Covid and five deaths.
Asian countries have seen a Covid surge and according to reports, the spread of Omicron-related variants has led to the rise. The sub-lineages of the JN.1 variant (LF.7 and NB1.8) have been confirmed by health authorities in these countries.
According to Dr Kapil Zirpe, a chest physician at the neuro-intensive care unit of Ruby Hall Clinic, the J N.1 variant is part of the Omicron BA.2.86 family. India has not officially confirmed any local spread of the variant.
Dr Zirpe, however, observed that there was no need to panic. 'Simply put, we have observed that every year there are mutations of the Omicron-related variants and symptomatic treatment is given for mild cases. However, one has to be alert in case there are symptoms like breathlessness, body ache and malaise. Rest and hydration are important and paracetamol offers relief from pain,' he said.
Dr Prachee Sathe, chief of the intensive care unit at Ruby Hall Clinic, also pointed out that Covid tests are done if the patient has severe respiratory failure and has been hospitalised.
Dr Rajesh Gadia, consulting physician at KEM Hospital, said that with the unseasonal rain, there has been a slight rise in cases of cough and fever. 'However, these are patients with mild symptoms so far,' he said.
According to Dr Amit Dravid, an infectious diseases specialist at Noble Hospital, the 87-year-old man who had fever and breathlessness and tested positive for Covid has improved with treatment. 'So far one person has tested positive for Covid-19. Tests are not routinely done. However, we have also noted a few more cases of A(H1N1), swine flu, apart from other upper respiratory tract infections,' he added.
Dr Piyush Chaudhari, an infectious diseases specialist at Jehangir Hospital, also said that over the past one and a half decades there had been a trend of a surge in the number and severity of cases of respiratory infections like A (H1N1) influenza every two to three years. 'Hence a similar trend occurring with Covid would not be surprising given how frequently these viruses mutate,' Dr Chaudhari said.
According to the Pune Municipal Corporation's health department, 1,405 A(H1N1) cases and 22 deaths were reported in the past five years. This year there have been seven cases, as against 281 in 2024. In 2023, 73 cases were reported, as against 745 in 2022.
'All this makes it very important to take regular vaccinations against these infections as available and recommended,' Dr Chaudhari said, adding that those with mild symptoms should avoid contact with those at high risk.
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition.
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