Covid-19 surge in Singapore, Hong Kong not a cause for concern in India: Health Ministry
Amid the latest surge in
Covid-19 cases in Singapore
and Hong Kong, a review meeting of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and central government hospitals was held under the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) on Monday.
"The current
Covid-19
situation in India remains under control," the health ministry said in a statement. As of May 19, the number of active Covid-19 cases in India stands at 257. "Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalisation required," it further said. The health ministry said they remain vigilant in monitoring the situation closely.
Coronavirus subvariant JN.1, responsible for the latest
Covid
surge in Singapore and Hong Kong, has been circulating in India for quite some time and there's nothing to worry as there is no evidence that the variants were more transmissible or severe, health experts told ET.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Never Put Eggs In The Refrigerator. Here's Why...
Car Novels
Undo
LF.7 and NB.1.8, both offshoots of JN.1, are currently the most common variants, accounting for more than two-thirds of all sequenced cases in both Singapore and Hong Kong. The spike is being attributed to waning immunity.
The infection rate in Hong Kong has seen a sharp surge from 1.7% in mid of March to 11.4% now, according to the data by the Centre for Health Protection, under the department of health in Hong Kong.
Live Events
Gautam Menon, professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, said that India could see a rise in flu-like cases in the next few months.
"Singapore and Hong Kong are seeing a rise in cases of the variants LF.7 and NB.1.8, which are descended from the JN.1 strain. I think we can anticipate a rise in flu-like cases traceable to these variants in the next few months".
Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director-Max Healthcare & senior director-Institute of Internal Medicine, said the good news is that the present variant which is causing Covid in these countries is not much different from what we experienced during the last waves of Covid.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Schools told to prepare child emergency medical response plan, state govt tells Kerala HC
Kochi: The state govt has informed high court that a directive has been issued to schools to prepare and display a child emergency medical response plan outlining the steps to be taken in the event of sudden medical emergencies. The guidelines issued by the general education department, dated May 30, further instruct schools to proactively coordinate with the nearest primary health centre or taluk hospital to ensure the availability of anti-venom and paediatric medical care in critical situations. Schools must maintain updated lists of hospitals equipped with anti-venom facilities. Additionally, schools are directed to coordinate with the forest department to identify and engage authorised snake catchers or handlers for emergency snake removal operations. Schools must also conduct thorough inspections of their premises to identify and seal potential entry points for snakes, insects and other reptiles. This includes checking boundary walls, storage areas, gardens and all structures for gaps, holes, or overgrown vegetation that may harbour such threats. The state made these submissions in response to petitions seeking a directive to make paediatric ICUs and ventilators available in all district, taluk and general hospitals, in light of the classroom snakebite death in Wayanad in 2019. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologista recomenda: simples truque elimina o fungo facilmente Acabe com o Fungo Undo At an earlier hearing, the court had asked the state to detail the measures taken to prevent such incidents in future, prompting this submission by the additional director of general education. The guidelines further state that schools must conduct mock drills to ensure preparedness for emergencies such as fire, flood, or earthquake, in consultation with the district disaster management authority and the local self-govt. Every school head must also ensure that at least two staff members are trained in basic first aid, including CPR and emergency wound care, in consultation with the nearest hospital. The contact details of nearby hospitals and public health officers must be prominently displayed within the school premises, along with the contact information for ambulance services, as per the guidelines. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
50 COVID-19 cases reported in Chhattisgarh, all mild, no cause for panic, says Health min
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has reported 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 till Friday, but health authorities have urged citizens not to panic, assuring that all patients are exhibiting only mild, flu-like symptoms and do not require hospitalization. According to the State Health Department, symptoms such as low-grade fever, cold, cough, and sore throat have been observed in those infected. So far, 1,183 individuals have been tested, out of which 50 have tested positive with Covid-19. Of those positive, highest 31 patients were from Raipur and 12 from Bilaspur. Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal has directed all health officials across districts to ensure timely testing, contact tracing, and availability of sample collection services. Instructions have been given to refer only those with severe symptoms to hospitals for treatment. Minister Jaiswal has instructed Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs), civil surgeons, and hospitals associated with medical colleges to maintain strict surveillance and testing protocols for suspected COVID-19 cases. Contact Tracing and Community Monitoring Underway Commissioner and Director of Health Services stated that rigorous surveillance is being carried out. Individuals who came into contact with infected patients are being identified and tested. Health teams have been dispatched to the respective localities for door-to-door surveys. 'Stay Alert, Not Afraid': Experts Advise Health experts from the Union Ministry of Health have stated that the currently circulating variant behaves similarly to seasonal flu, and there is no need for alarm. Chhattisgarh government has ensured all necessary preparations to handle both COVID-19 and seasonal illnesses. The public is being urged to remain cautious but calm. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
37 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Dedicated COVID-19 ward set up at Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital
A dedicated 100-bed COVID-19 ward has been established at Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital (TKGMCH) as a proactive step, despite no confirmed COVID cases in the district so far. The facility has been set up as a precautionary measure in line with state health directives. With COVID-19 cases emerging in several States across India, both the Central and State governments have ramped up preparedness to prevent further spread. As part of these efforts, the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has issued detailed guidelines for the early identification of suspected cases across Primary Health Centres, District Head Quarters Hospital and Medical Colleges. District Microbiologists were instructed to facilitate proper collection of throat swab and nasal swab in Viral Transport Medium (VTM). Additionally, individuals with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, children and elderly were urged to wear face masks in public places as a preventive measure. In line with these precautionary protocols, a 100-bed special COVID-19 ward has been established at TKGMCH and is ready for use. Based on the guidelines of the Director of Public Health, all precautionary measures are being implemented in the hospital. Silas Jeyamani, Resident Medical Officer, confirmed that the hospital is well equipped with an adequate stock of liquid oxygen and essential medicines. He noted that the COVID-19 ward, which was actively used during the previous waves of pandemic, has now been prepared for potential use. He added that the government has instructed that patients exhibiting covid symptoms should undergo swab testing. If symptoms are detected, the patient will be isolated and their samples will be collected and sent to Chennai for testing. All necessary arrangements for the process have already been made at TKGMCH.
