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Time of India
23-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Delhi hospitals told to be prepared amid rise in Covid cases
In view of the recent increase in Covid-19 cases, the Delhi government Friday issued an advisory, asking hospitals to prepare in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccines. Experts however assured that there is no cause for immediate worry as there is currently no evidence that the new variants of Covid-19 are more transmissible or severe than earlier ones. "Ensure all the equipment's such as ventilators, Bi-pap, oxygen concentrators, PSA are in functional condition," it said. The health department directed adequate testing as per Covid guidelines. "Ensure Covid testing of 5% ILI cases and 100% SARI cases," it said. The government also asked health institutions to send all positive Covid samples for genome sequencing to Lok Nayak Hospital. It has also instructed all hospital staff to start wearing masks, as part of respiratory etiquettes. LF.7 and NB.1.8-both offshoots of coronavirus subvariant JN.1-are currently the most common variants, accounting for more than two-thirds of all sequenced cases in Singapore and Hong Kong. The latest spike is being attributed to waning immunity. The infection rate in Hong Kong has surged to 11.4% from 1.7% in mid-March, according to data from the Centre for Health Protection, under the department of health in Hong Kong. Gautam Menon, professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, said India could see an increase in flu-like cases in the next few months. Mumbai has reported 95 new Covid cases in May-a significant uptick compared to Maharashtra's total of 106 since January, according to the state health department. Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director & senior director - Institute of Internal Medicine at Max Healthcare said India needs to remain vigilant. "Any such case which comes where there is a suspicion, especially a traveller, should be tested; genomic surveillance testing should be done, and of course, the person should then isolate himself or herself. At this stage, other than this, any mass advice for people at a larger population base is not required because India has yet not reported any increased number of cases," he said.
News18
19-05-2025
- Health
- News18
COVID-19 Resurgence in Asia: Why India Must Stay Alert But Not Panic
Last Updated: Covid-19: 'There is absolutely no need to panic, but we must stay alert and vigilant over the coming weeks,' says Dr. Sandeep Budhiraja. As the summer of 2025 unfolds, reports of a COVID-19 uptick from countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand have begun to surface, prompting renewed global attention. While such spikes were once synonymous with colder months, this unusual summer wave has led public health experts to advise increased vigilance—though not alarm. Dr. Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director at Max Healthcare and Senior Director at the Institute of Internal Medicine, offers a measured perspective, 'What's unusual is that this current surge is happening in the summer months, which typically are not known for respiratory virus peaks." He attributes the uptick in infections to the JN.1 variant, a sub-lineage of Omicron that previously made headlines about a year ago. Despite its contagious nature, JN.1 is not significantly different or more severe than past variants, Dr. Budhiraja reassures. 'This variant, like others in the Omicron family, doesn't typically cause serious illness in most people. But it does spread fast," he says. No Need for Alarm, But Vigilance is Key While the symptoms remain consistent with typical COVID-19—fever, cough, fatigue, and respiratory discomfort—Dr. Budhiraja stresses that there is 'nothing unique or more dangerous" about this strain. Nevertheless, he urges countries, including India, to remain alert and implement the same tried-and-tested public health measures: A critical aspect of containment, according to Dr. Budhiraja, lies in genomic surveillance and international reporting mechanisms. 'Countries must have a robust reporting system and genomic testing to trace which variant is spreading," he says. India, he advises, should especially focus on monitoring international arrivals from affected regions and testing symptomatic individuals. 'If we see any surge, particularly among travellers, then screening and isolation will be necessary. But at present, such steps on a mass scale are not required." Waning Immunity Could Be a Factor A key insight shared by Dr Budhiraja is the role of waning immunity in the resurgence. 'The virus hasn't become more virulent—it's our immunity that might have declined," he explains, pointing out that vaccination drives have understandably slowed down, and most populations haven't received booster doses in recent months or years. This leaves segments of the population—especially the elderly, immunocompromised, or those with chronic conditions—vulnerable to infection. If cases rise in India, these high-risk groups should be prioritized for booster vaccinations. India's Current Status: No Surge, No Panic Encouragingly, India is not currently witnessing any significant rise in COVID-19 cases. The number of active cases remains below 100, which, in the words of Dr. Budhiraja, 'is at a very baseline level." 'There is absolutely no need to panic. But we must remain alert over the next few weeks to monitor how the situation in Southeast Asia evolves and whether it begins to impact other regions," he says. Conclusion: Stay Calm, Stay Prepared As the world enters a new phase of coexistence with COVID-19, experts like Dr. Budhiraja are urging both caution and composure. The resurgence in parts of Asia serves as a reminder that while the virus has become endemic, its presence hasn't vanished. 'COVID never went away," says Dr. Budhiraja. 'It simply remained at low levels. Periodic outbreaks are part of its natural behaviour now." The path forward, he adds, is not panic-driven lockdowns or restrictions, but measured public health responses, international cooperation, and continued vigilance. First Published:
