Seven more deaths reported as the number of COVID-19 cases rises above 4,300
Seven more COVID-19 deaths had been reported in the country in the previous 24 hours, as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday (June 4, 2025) morning. Maharashtra reported the highest number of deaths (four). One death each has been reported from Delhi, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. The total death toll stands at 44, according to data from the Union Health Ministry.
'The public is advised to practice hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and avoid crowded places when unwell. Individuals with acute respiratory illness should self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms worsen,' a senior Health Ministry official said, after a series of technical review meetings were held on June 2 and June 3 in view of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in India.
The official said that State governments had already been instructed to ensure the availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines.
'State and District surveillance units under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) are closely monitoring influenza-like illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI),' the official added.
India reported 864 more COVID-19 cases during this period, taking the number of cases in 2025 to 4,302, the Health Ministry said in its updated data.
According to details released by the Ministry, the deceased in Maharashtra included a 55-year-old male with cardiac arrythmia and other health complications. 'Patient was also a known case of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) with chronic bronchitis,' the data stated.
Another male, 73, had cardiogenic shock, Parkinson's disease, COVID-19 pneumonia, and hypertension.
Two other fatalities in Maharashtra were a 23-year-old female with diabetes mellitus, and a 27-year-old male with a comorbid condition, and alcohol withdrawal seizure.
The death in Tamil Nadu was that of a male, 76, with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), COVID-19 pneumonia, and sepsis with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).
While details are awaited from the case in Gujarat, Delhi reported one more death — a female, 22, with lower respiratory tract infection, COVID-19 pneumonia, shock, and Type 1 respiratory failure.
'Deaths have been reported primarily among individuals with pre-existing illnesses,' a Ministry official said.
The official added that mock drills assessing oxygen supply systems are currently ongoing. Also, surveillance testing has been recommended for all admitted SARI cases, and for 5% of ILI cases, as per guidelines.
All positive SARI samples are sent for Whole Genome Sequencing through the Indian Council of Medical Research - Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ICMR-VRDL) network.
'The Union Health Ministry continues to closely monitor the situation,' the official said.
The surge in COVID-19 cases this year have been driven by four variants — LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB. 1.8.1.
'These new infections are happening because the protection from previous infections and vaccination is reduced. However, the symptoms so far are mild, and while there is a need to be prepared, there is no need for panic,' head of the ICMR, Rajiv Bahl, said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
17 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Covid infections growing milder, occasional surges expected but don't worry: experts
The death toll is 55 in the current surge which started January this year, primarily among individuals with pre-existing illnesses, according to the Union Health ministry. "People with pre-existing illnesses and those older than 65 should follow standard precautions, as they would against any other respiratory infection -- not just for COVID-19," explained Lahariya, a consultant physician and former staff member of WHO. Kerala is the most affected with over 1,600 cases, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi and Maharashtra, ministry data shows. The case surge in India is part of a wider wave impacting parts of Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong, which have been seeing a rise in infections over the past months. Wastewater surveillance by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) has detected presence of SARS-CoV-2 -- which causes COVID-19 -- in samples from 10 sewage treatment plants in Pune, the Times of India reported. Patterns are similar to those seen in the weeks preceding earlier surges, NCL scientists were quoted as saying. Genome sequencing of samples from India's west and south have shown links to the subvariants of Omicron -- LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB.1.8.1. The cases are not severe and there is no need to worry, Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Rajiv Behl said earlier this week. LF.7 and been classified as 'variants under monitoring' (VUM) by the WHO to alert public health authorities that a variant of SARS-CoV-2 requires prioritised attention and monitoring. JN.1 has been circulating in India since November 2023. The current situation, Behl stressed, is being monitored. Immunologist Satyajit Rath explained that the subvariants driving up case numbers indicate that they are probably better at binding themselves to human cells, despite pre-existing antibodies created in response to a prior infection or vaccination -- or 'infectivity'. "However, the important issue here is not their infectivity, but their tendency to cause severe disease, or 'virulence'," Rath, former scientist at New Delhi's National Institute of Immunology, told PTI. "Since selection pressure among the virus strains depends on infectivity and transmissibility -- and not on virulence -- there is no reason to expect a steady increase in the virulence of the emerging virus strains, which, in fact, has not at all been seen either," he added. Moreover, given that the COVID-19-causing virus is now endemic and constantly 'mutating' or evolving, ups and downs in infections in the population are expected, the health experts said. "People need not worry themselves until they are informed of a new 'variant of concern'. VUM is not relevant to the public, but only to public health authorities," Agarwal said. Lahariya advised the public to gather information from reliable sources and not to forward unverified messages, while Rath suggested that citizens keep a watch for the virulence of newly emerging strains. The experts also stressed on the role of authorities. "National and state governments in India should keep a watch on cases, monitor the trends in new cases and share data widely. The linkage between infections and clinical outcomes should be explored to understand the clinical features of the variants in circulation," Lahariya said. Rath drew attention to systemic issues that remain regarding preparedness of public health systems and availability of healthcare facilities across sections of the society should a virulent variant emerge. "The catch is, how efficiently, systematically and rigorously are our public health systems tracking virus strains, their infectivity and their virulence, not only for SARS-CoV-2 but for any other infection?" he asked. "Are we making next generation Covid vaccines at all? Are we making them available widely and affordably? Are we even carefully tracking evidence to see how well or poorly the current vaccine-induced immunity functions against emerging strains?" he added. The poor and vulnerable would need special protection "but are masks being made widely and freely available? And if not, we are throwing poor communities onto their own resources even for taking such simple precautions, and that is a systemic problem," Rath said.
Hans India
29 minutes ago
- Hans India
Study shows how Covid virus shields itself during replication
US researchers have identified a mechanism that SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes Covid-19 -- uses to protect itself inside the body as it works to replicate and infect more cells. Without this protective mechanism, viral infection is dramatically reduced, said the team from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Chicago. The finding, published in the journal Nature Communications, not only provides a potential target for new Covid therapies but also offers insights that could inform future vaccine and antiviral development. The study builds on earlier work from Texas Biomed that identified ORF3a, a type of viral protein most important for the virus's pathogenicity, or ability to cause disease. Specifically, the team found that SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a appears to play a vital role in protecting structural proteins, most notably the spike protein that facilitates spread into other cells, as they are assembled on the surface of viral particles. It does this by driving the formation of a dense group of proteins that surround the spike protein and provide protection while in transit, much like security detail protecting a person or an armoured vehicle carrying cash to the bank, the researcher said. Jueqi Chen, Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago, termed these protective complexes "3a dense bodies" or 3DBs for short. It appears that 3DBs help prevent the spike protein from being cut into smaller components. When ORF3a is missing, these 3DBs fail to form, and the spike protein often arrives damaged, severely impairing the nascent virus's ability to infect new cells, the expert said. "ORF3a could therefore be a good target for drugs to block the virus," said Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Professor at Texas Biomed. "This discovery could also be instrumental for vaccine development, as we illustrated previously," Martinez-Sobrido added.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
AI, the new shoulder to cry on. And it doesn't get tired.
HighlightsHealth experts indicate that loneliness can be as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, with a significant number of people worldwide struggling with depression exacerbated by social isolation. Artificial Intelligence companions offer unique features such as non-judgmental support, 24/7 availability, personalized learning, and privacy, helping users feel less isolated and better manage their emotions. The Artificial Intelligence companionship market is projected to grow substantially, with emerging business models including subscription services, partnerships with healthcare providers, and specialized companions for specific demographics. Here's a fact that highlights a serious problem: More men between 20-40 die from suicide than from cancer. In our world of constant online connection, many people still feel deeply alone. This gap between digital connection and meaningful relationships has created a major market opportunity: AI digital companionship . Loneliness Is Driving Market Growth The statistics are concerning. Health experts now say that loneliness can be as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide struggle with depression, and social isolation often makes it worse. The pandemic certainly didn't help, but these problems existed long before COVID-19. Traditional support systems like therapy are often expensive, have long wait times, or aren't available when people need them most. This gap creates a perfect opportunity for technology to offer a solution that can reach millions of people. Why AI Companions Are Different What makes AI companions special compared to other solutions? Several important features stand out: They don't judge. AI companions create a space where people can express themselves without fear of criticism or social consequences. For someone dealing with mental health challenges or difficult emotions, this judgment-free zone can be incredibly valuable. They're always available. Unlike human support that has natural limitations, AI companions can be there at any hour. This constant availability helps during critical moments when other support isn't accessible but is desperately needed. They learn what works for you. Modern AI systems adapt to your communication style and preferences. Through ongoing conversations, these companions can provide increasingly personalized support that addresses your specific needs. They offer privacy. Many people avoid seeking help because they worry about others finding out. AI companions provide a private channel for exploring sensitive topics without risking personal or professional relationships. Early users report feeling less isolated and better able to manage their emotions after using these AI companions. Rather than replacing human connections, these technologies often help users build confidence to strengthen their relationships with real people. How Companies Are Making Money Several promising business models are emerging in the AI companionship market: Subscription Services Following the Netflix model, companies like Replika offer basic features for free, with premium options available for a monthly fee. Premium subscriptions typically unlock more personalization options or specialized support features. Market experts believe this segment alone could grow to $8-12 billion globally within the next decade. Working With Healthcare Providers AI companions can extend mental health services by providing support between therapy sessions, tracking emotional patterns, and alerting care providers about concerning changes. Several insurance companies are already testing programs that would cover these digital tools, potentially bringing substantial healthcare dollars into this market. Specialized Companions for Specific Groups Some of the most promising products target specific populations with unique needs. Companies are developing companions specifically for seniors facing isolation, veterans dealing with PTSD, or teenagers navigating social challenges. With aging populations in many countries, companions designed for older adults could become a $5+ billion market by 2028. Platform Approach Some companies are building platforms where developers can create specialized companions for different needs – similar to how Apple's App Store works. The platform takes a percentage of all transactions while supporting a community of developers who create diverse solutions. This approach could potentially capture the largest share of the market by enabling many specialized companions to flourish. Important Risks to Consider Despite the promising outlook, several challenges need careful attention: Dependency risks There are valid concerns about whether people might start preferring AI interaction over human relationships. Responsible companies should design systems that encourage human connection rather than replace it. Privacy concerns Conversations with AI companions generate very personal data. Companies must have strong protection measures and clear policies about how this sensitive information is handled. Making sure everyone is represented AI systems might not serve diverse populations equally well if not properly designed. Creating truly helpful companions requires diverse development teams and thorough testing with different groups of people. Being honest about limitations Users need to understand what AI companions can and cannot do. Overpromising capabilities could create unrealistic expectations that ultimately disappoint users. Changing regulations Rules governing emotionally-engaged AI are still developing. Companies that proactively create ethical guidelines and work with regulators will likely help shape future standards while gaining a competitive edge. The AI companionship market is just beginning to take shape. Early versions may seem limited compared to what we'll see as the technology improves and becomes more widely used. Success in this space will require teamwork between technology experts, mental health professionals, ethics specialists, and business leaders. The most successful companies will see AI not just as a cool technology but as a tool to address basic human needs for connection and understanding. As traditional social structures continue to change, AI companions offer a way to provide support that can reach people wherever and whenever they need it. The market opportunity is substantial, but so is the responsibility to develop these systems ethically and thoughtfully. Companies that find the right balance between innovation and responsibility will likely lead this emerging market that sits at the intersection of technology and our fundamental human need for connection. (The author is an AI Researcher and Investor. Opinions are personal.)
