Covid far from over: Delhi court seeks report on sample testing as cases surge
The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government to submit a status report within six weeks on the policy for Covid-19 sample collection, transport and testing, stressing that the pandemic is "far from over". The court's order comes in light of recent news reports highlighting a rise in Covid-19 cases across the country.The direction was issued on May 28 after the court noted that no update had been provided regarding the outcome of a key meeting held on May 30, 2023. In that meeting, the Centre decided to constitute four expert subcommittees, comprising specialists in pathology, biochemistry, haematology and microbiology from Central Government Hospitals, to define Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for sample collection, set up collection centres and formulate a policy for transport and storage of Covid-19 samples.advertisementWhile the court acknowledged that a Contempt Petition may not stand given that such a decision had been taken, it expressed concern over the apparent lack of follow-up. "Even though on first blush, the Contempt Petition may not subsist...the vacuum, if any, of steps taken post the meeting of 30th May 2023, is a serious issue," the court said.
Observing that there are "wide reports of Covid-19 being active in the community," the court underscored the urgency of formalising protocols and submitting a clear status update. "Though the Court is sanguine that steps would have been taken and protocols would have been in place, it is imperative for the respondent to place the same on record," it said.The court directed Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC) Monika Arora to personally ensure that the concerned officers are apprised of the order and that a detailed status report is filed within six weeks. The matter will next be heard on July 18, 2025.As of 8:00 am on Monday, India had 3,961 active Covid-19 cases and 28 deaths, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In the national capital Delhi, the active cases stood at 294.Must Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
India's Covid-19 cases cross 5,000-mark, Kerala, Delhi, Bengal most affected
India is seeing a fresh uptick in Covid-19 cases, with active infections reaching 5,364 on Friday, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry at 8 AM. In the last 24 hours, the country reported 764 new cases and four deaths, two in Kerala and one each in Punjab and remains the most affected state, reporting 192 new cases in a day, followed by Gujarat (107), West Bengal (58) and Delhi (30), contributing to a nationwide rise of 498 new infections. In view of the rising cases, the Centre conducted mock drills to check hospital preparedness. Covid-19 cases in India: 10 Points advertisementMaharashtra reported 114 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total to 1,276 cases since January, along with one more death, raising the toll to 18. Pune (44 cases) and Mumbai (37 cases) reported the highest numbers, followed by Mira Bhayandar and Panvel with seven cases each. In the last 24 hours, West Bengal reported 58 new Covid-19 cases and 91 recoveries. The total active cases now stand at 596, with the death toll remaining at one. advertisement Delhi reported 30 new Covid-19 cases, raising active infections to 592, with no new deaths since Thursday, keeping the total fatalities at seven since January 1. Chhattisgarh has reported 50 Covid-19 cases following recent screenings conducted in response to a rise in infections in other parts of the country, officials said on Friday. Additionally, 1,183 people were tested after the detection of a new variant, and 50 tested positive for the virus. Haryana reported 31 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, with Gurugram (9) and Faridabad (11) accounting for the majority. Other cases were reported from Karnal, Jhajjar, Panipat, Yamunanagar, Hisar and Panchkula. The state currently has 87 active cases and a total of 151 cumulative cases. Officials state that most cases are mild and managed at home. Scientists add that while Covid-19 is becoming milder, occasional surges may happen since the virus is now endemic and constantly evolving. They added that there is no cause for alarm. On June 5, hospitals across the country conducted a mock drill to assess their preparedness for handling Covid-19 cases. The central government has directed all states to ensure adequate availability of oxygen, ventilators, isolation beds and essential medicines to manage a possible Covid-19 surge. On June 2 and 3, a series of technical review meetings chaired by Dr. Sunita Sharma, DGHS, were held with key health and disaster management agencies and state representatives. The purpose was to assess the current Covid-19 situation and review preparedness measures. Authorities are closely monitoring Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). Testing is conducted for all admitted SARI cases and for 5 percent of ILI cases according to guidelines. Positive SARI samples are sent for Whole Genome Sequencing through the ICMR VRDL network. The World Health Organisation officially ended Covid-19's status as a public health emergency in May 2023. Health experts now describe the disease as seasonal, endemic, persistent, or limited to specific regions. Tune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Covid-19
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
India's Covid cases cross 5,000 mark as new variant spreads: Kerala leads surge, Maharashtra, Delhi follow
India has recorded over 5,300 active COVID-19 cases amid a slow but visible resurgence. The increase is attributed to new variants like NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, with Kerala, Gujarat, and West Bengal reporting the highest numbers. The Centre has directed mock drills and equipment checks nationwide. Most cases are mild, but officials urge vigilance. Researchers at IIT Guwahati have also introduced a new virus detection method. States like Odisha, Maharashtra, and Haryana are issuing public advisories and preparing for possible outbreaks. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Kerala leads surge, Maharashtra and Delhi follow Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Localised spikes in Haryana, Odisha, and Uttarakhand Technical reviews and national mock drills Variant NB.1.8.1 drives global spread Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Symptoms and vaccine efficacy Research breakthrough at IIT Guwahati India's active Covid-19 caseload reached 5,364 on Friday, with 764 new cases and four deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, according to data from the Union Health Ministry . Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi emerged as key hotspots. The rising trend has led the Centre to conduct hospital preparedness drills and instruct all states to bolster oxygen supplies, ventilators, isolation wards, and stockpiles of essential new cases remain mild and are being managed at home. However, the emergence of the NB.1.8.1 variant — now under global monitoring — has raised questions about increased continues to report the highest number of cases. In the last 24 hours alone, it registered 192 infections. Gujarat followed with 107, while West Bengal and Delhi reported 58 and 30 new cases added 114 cases on Friday, with the state's total since January rising to 1,276. One new death was confirmed, bringing the toll to 18. Most of the deceased had comorbidities, according to the state health Delhi, the active caseload rose to 592. No new deaths were recorded since Thursday, with seven fatalities since January 1. The capital is yet to see a sharp spike but remains on logged 31 new infections on Friday. Gurugram and Faridabad contributed 20 cases between them. The state has 87 active cases and a total of 151 cumulative infections. 'Timely action and strict adherence to preventive measures can significantly curb the spread of the virus,' said Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, urging the public to stay alert but reported seven new cases, raising the total to 30 this wave. Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra noted that 'on average, five to seven new cases are being detected every day.' He added, 'We all have to remain cautious.'The state is considering fresh guidelines in schools when they reopen on 20 June. 'Students with Covid-like symptoms would be asked to wear masks in schools, while those with more acute signs of the infection would be asked to stay home,' said School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Uttarakhand, seven people tested positive in Dehradun, bringing the district's count to 29. The health department is tracing contacts of the newly Union Health Ministry, led by DGHS Dr Sunita Sharma, held back-to-back technical review meetings on 2 and 3 June. Attendees included representatives from the NCDC, ICMR, IDSP, EMR Cell, and officials from all states and union territories. The meetings focused on preparedness and assessing the national 5 June, hospitals across India carried out a mock drill. The focus was on checking oxygen systems, including PSA plants and liquid medical oxygen current wave in India is being primarily fuelled by the NB.1.8.1 variant, a recombinant strain of Omicron. According to the World Health Organization, it was declared a 'variant under monitoring' on 23 May 2025. By April, it made up over 10% of sequences globally — up from 2.5% a month Lara Herrero wrote in The Conversation that NB.1.8.1 has shown a stronger ability to bind to human cell receptors. 'It may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains,' she noted.'It is more transmissible,' confirmed Prof. Subhash Verma, from the University of Nevada's School of Medicine, in an interview with CBS symptoms of the NB.1.8.1 variant include sore throat, cough, fever, muscle pain, and nasal congestion. Some patients have also reported nausea and stress that vaccines remain crucial. While NB.1.8.1 may partially evade immunity, current vaccines still help reduce severe illness and hospitalisation.'There is no evidence that the new strain is more severe or deadly,' said public health officials. However, they advise testing, masking, and distancing if symptoms the ongoing surge, researchers at IIT Guwahati have introduced a new method to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2. It's based on sedimentation — the settling of a clay-virus-electrolyte mix. This cost-effective approach was developed by Prof. T V Bharat and Prof. Sachin Kumar, alongside scholars Dr Himanshu Yadav and Deepa findings, now published in Applied Clay Science, may provide a useful tool for rapid testing in areas with limited access to conventional diagnostic far, most Covid-19 cases reported this year are mild. Of the 55 deaths since January 1, nearly all occurred among those with pre-existing health governments are issuing region-specific advisories. In Odisha, for instance, health services director Amarendra Nath Mohanty advised people with symptoms to avoid visiting Puri during the upcoming Rath Yatra. 'Such persons can witness the festival through television and other media platforms,' he West Bengal, where 58 new cases and 91 recoveries were recorded, officials said, 'The situation is under control, and there is nothing to worry about. However, we would advise the people to follow the Covid-19 health-related protocols and wear masks.'The resurgence of Covid-19 in India reflects a broader global trend. New strains continue to evolve, and while many remain mild, health systems must stay ready. The coming weeks may offer clarity on the behaviour of NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 then, authorities are focused on readiness. Clinicians urge the public to remain aware but not anxious. Testing, vaccines, and responsible public behaviour remain the best defence.
India.com
37 minutes ago
- India.com
COVID-19 Cases In India: Active Cases Rise To 5,364; Delhi 592 - Kerala Leading With 1,679 Cases; 4 Deaths In 24 Hours
COVID 19 Cases Rising In India Live Updates: India is once again witnessing an unsettling rise in COVID-19 cases, with the number of active infections climbing to 5,364; according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's latest update as of 8:00 AM IST, June 7, 2025. Leading the current spike is Kerala, with 192 fresh infections, pushing its active caseload to 1,679; nearly half of the country's total. Meanwhile, West Bengal added 58 new cases, increasing its active tally to 596, while the national capital Delhi, recorded 30 new infections, taking its active cases to 592. Maharashtra, another state that has seen consistent rises in previous waves, reported 22 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections recorded to 548, as per the state's public health department. As per May 2025 classifications by the World Health Organization (WHO), subvariants LF.7 and NB.1.8.1 are categorized as Variants Under Monitoring, meaning they are not yet deemed as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest. However, these strains are suspected to be contributing to the rising infections not just in India but also across China and other parts of Asia. Despite the emergence of new subvariants, the JN.1 strain remains the most dominant, accounting for a staggering 53% of all positive cases across the country. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a case of NB.1.8.1 was detected in Tamil Nadu in April, while four cases of LF.7 were identified in Gujarat earlier this month. With the virus subtly shifting form and symptoms evolving, health authorities are urging the public to maintain precautionary measures, including hygiene, mask use in crowded places, and timely testing. Although hospitalisation remains low, experts warn that complacency could reverse progress. Stay informed, and if you're experiencing mild symptoms like fatigue, a sore throat, or gastrointestinal discomfort, it's best to test early and isolate to prevent further spread. Say Tuned To Zee News For Latest Updates...
