Most Covid cases in India are mild, patients under home care: Sources
Most of the Covid cases reported in various states are mild in nature and the patients are under home care, official sources said amid a rise in cases in some countries.The matter regarding Covid-19 cases was reviewed by the Union Health Secretary on Saturday with the Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), DGHS and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) etc, they said.advertisementSome Covid-19 cases have been reported, mainly from states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Sources said that there is a robust pan-India system for surveillance of respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19 through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR's pan-India respiratory virus sentinel surveillance network.
"It is observed that most of these cases are mild and under home care," an official source said."It may also be mentioned that there have been some media reports regarding an increase in Covid-19 cases in Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries in the recent past. It has been ascertained from the respective National IHR focal points that there is no indication that the circulating variants are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to the previously circulating variants," the source said.advertisementThe sources asserted that the Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and, through its multiple agencies, was proactively monitoring the situation closely.Meanwhile, according to the INSACOG data, one case of the newly emerging Covid-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and four cases of LF.7 have been detected in India.As of May 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs), not as Variants of Concern (VOCs) or Variants of Interest (VOIs). But these are the variants reportedly driving the rise in Covid cases in China and parts of Asia.In India, the most common variant remains JN.1, comprising 53 per cent of samples tested, followed by BA.2 (26 per cent) and other Omicron sublineages (20%), according to INSACOG.As of May 19, the country had 257 active cases. Delhi recorded 23 new cases, Andhra Pradesh reported four in the last 24 hours, Telangana confirmed one, and a nine-month-old in Bengaluru tested positive amid a gradual rise over the past 20 days. Kerala reported 273 cases in May alone.Officials in several states reported more cases on Saturday.In Maharashtra, a Covid-19 patient suffering from severe diabetes died of comorbidities in Thane while eight new cases of the viral infection were reported in the city on Saturday, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said.advertisementTwo men were detected with coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital, Indore. In Uttarakhand, a 57-year-old tourist from Gujarat in Rishikesh and a woman doctor from AIIMS Rishikesh have been found infected with Covid.All 23 recent Covid-19 patients in Delhi experienced only mild symptoms and were under home quarantine, said health officials in the Delhi government.A 55-year-old woman was placed under home quarantine after she tested positive for Covid-19 in Noida on Delhi's outskirts.Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimh convened a high-level review meeting to assess the current Covid-19 scenario in the state and the preparedness of the health department.A Covid-19 case was reported in Hyderabad and the patient, a pulmonologist, has fully recovered, officials said on Friday.Tune InMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Covid-19
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Covid-19 cases in India climb 6,800, Karnataka and Gujarat see most infections; three deaths in 24 hours
India has continued to witness a rise in the Covid-19 cases, with the total climbing over 6,800 in the latest 24-hour cycle with Karnataka and Gujarat reporting as many as over 120 infections in a day. Three persons also succumbed to the Covid-19 infection, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. While officials have not yet indicated a return to widespread restrictions, the citizens have been urged to remain cautious, follow hygiene protocols, and consider mask usage in crowded or enclosed spaces. More details will be updated
New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Covid poses no threat yet, demand for masks up in Tiruchy
TIRUCHY: Despite only two official Covid-19 cases currently reported in Tiruchy, the demand for masks has seen a cautious resurgence. The health department has advised high-risk individuals, particularly the elderly and those with prior infections, to exercise caution, though mask usage is not mandatory. Currently, a 51-year-old man without comorbidities is receiving treatment for Covid at a private hospital, while a 25-year-old patient is under home isolation. This limited number of active cases has still prompted a return of precautionary behaviour among the public. Retail medical shops, particularly in areas like Thillai Nagar, are reporting a modest increase in mask sales. A pharmacist from the Thillai Nagar outlet noted, 'Normally, we sell about 50 masks a day, mostly for pollution or hospital visits. Now, we're selling double that, primarily to elderly people who had Covid before and feel slightly unwell.' The Tiruchy district Chemists and Druggists Association, said over 800 pharmacies have observed a slight uptick in demand. 'Earlier, selling 100 masks could take a whole month. Now, there's some movement but no real rush,' said President of the association (Tiruchy), P Kirubanandha Moorthy. Three-ply masks are retailing for Rs 5- Rs 10 each, while wholesale packets of 100 three-ply masks are priced at Rs 100. Wholesale traders confirm a sharper trend.
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Kerala health minister says Covid more severe among elderly, suggests special care
Amid an increase in Covid-19 cases, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has said that special care should be taken as the disease remains more severe among the elderly and those with other diseases. She added that the Omicron JN.1 variants LF.7 and XFG were the most common in Kerala. These variants are "not as severe" but have a high potential for spreading the disease. "Masks should be worn in public places and during travel. Genomic sequencing is being conducted to identify the Covid-19 variant. The Omicron JN.1 variant LF.7 and XFG, which are spreading in Southeast Asian countries, are the most common in Kerala. Although these variants are not as severe, they have a high potential for spreading the disease," the minister said. There are 2,223 active cases in the state, with 96 people undergoing treatment. Ernakulam district reported 431 Covid-19 cases, 426 cases in Kottayam, and 365 in Thiruvananthapuram. "There are currently 2,223 active Covid cases in the state. 96 people are under treatment. Most of them have other diseases. 431 cases have been reported in Ernakulam district, 426 cases in Kottayam and 365 cases in Thiruvananthapuram," the ministry said. All hospitals have been instructed to conduct Covid tests for those with symptoms, including cold, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath. The minister also stated that instructions have been given to ensure oxygen availability. Also read: New Covid-19 clusters in urban India raise alarms: Doctor reveals 7 categories of people at higher coronavirus risk This comes after George chaired a meeting with the state unit of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) to assess the situation in the state. The concerned officials have been directed not to refer patients to private hospitals unnecessarily due to Covid. "Unnecessary visits to hospitals should be avoided. Those with symptoms such as a cold, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath should wear masks. Masks are mandatory in hospitals. Hands should be cleaned with soap or sanitiser from time to time," the minister added. As of Tuesday morning, India has reported 6,815 active Covid-19 cases. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), 163 cases of the new Covid-19 variant XFG have recently been detected across the country. Earlier, Balram Bhargava, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and former Secretary of the Department of Health Research, said that the emergence of the XFG variant is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus's natural evolution. He added that India is well-positioned to detect and contain emerging variants swiftly due to the widespread deployment of rapid molecular diagnostic platforms such as Truenat.
