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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Mumbai sees 11 new Covid-19 cases daily, May numbers surge past 340
MUMBAI: Mumbai is currently recording an average of 11 new Covid-19 cases daily, with 346 infections reported in May alone – a sharp rise from near-zero figures till last month. While most cases are mild and hospitalisations remain low, Maharashtra has reported six Covid-positive deaths in 2025, so far, all of them involving patients with serious comorbidities. Health experts urge caution, not panic, stressing that the virus is now endemic and should be managed with rational testing, timely care and continued protection of vulnerable groups. Since January, Mumbai has reported a total of 352 cases, most of them emerging this month. On May 28 alone, Mumbai logged 36 new cases, underscoring a seasonal surge. 'This reflects the virus's persistent presence and our need to adapt to its changing behaviour,' said a senior epidemiologist with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). 'COVID has not gone—it's just quieter and more selective.' Across Maharashtra, 521 cases have been reported between January 1 and May 28, a state-wide daily average of 3.5 cases. Thane has also seen a steady increase, with 12 new infections on May 28, bringing its active caseload to 72. Of these, 16 patients have been hospitalised, 45 are recovering in home isolation, and 10 have recovered. One death linked to comorbidities has been recorded during this period. 'The clinical picture remains mild in the vast majority of cases,' according to an official with the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). 'We are ensuring timely diagnosis and isolation.' In terms of testing, Maharashtra conducted 8,868 Covid-19 tests in this five-month period, with a positivity rate of 5.87%. Besides Mumbai and Thane, new cases on May 28 were reported from Pune (9), Navi Mumbai (4), Panvel (4), Pimpri-Chinchwad (3), Kalyan (2), Ahmednagar (2), and one case each from Raigad and Nagpur. The state's active case count stands at 383, with 132 recoveries documented since January. Despite the uptick, health authorities are not alarmed. Hospital admissions remain limited, and most patients are recovering within three to four days. 'There is no significant lung involvement or oxygen requirement in these patients,' said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chair of the National IMA COVID Task Force. 'Symptoms are predominantly mild—fever, sore throat, body ache, fatigue. Most people don't require antivirals or even clinical intervention beyond supportive care.' Maharashtra has reported six Covid-positive deaths in 2025, so far, averaging one death approximately every 24 days. All six individuals had serious underlying conditions. 'In these cases, Covid was a precipitating factor, not the primary cause of death,' explained an infectious disease specialist at a Mumbai tertiary hospital. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued an advisory, urging citizens to remain vigilant without resorting to panic. 'Covid is now endemic. It flares when immunity wanes or when a new variant circulates,' said Dr Jayadevan. 'What we need is rational testing, symptom-guided treatment, and continued focus on protecting at-risk populations.' He also warned against the misuse of antibiotics. 'This is a viral illness—antibiotics are ineffective and only worsen antimicrobial resistance,' he said. With the monsoon approaching and the likelihood of a seasonal increase in respiratory illnesses, health experts are advising the public to wear masks in crowded places, avoid self-medication, and seek timely medical consultation if symptoms persist. 'We've learnt how to live with this virus,' said a senior health official. 'It still targets the vulnerable, but we are no longer powerless—preparedness, not panic, is what matters now.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
India gears up to reboot ICU standards, fix doctor drain, and cash in on global med travel
India will soon come up with a structured framework for critical care to address the infrastructure and human resource gap in the sector, officials said. The idea, which is at a preliminary stage of discussion, could include defining resource allocation for critical care and criteria for prioritising patients during emergencies. The proposed framework could lay down standards for structure, personnel, and organisation of the critical care unit across hospitals in the country, a senior government official told ET on the condition of anonymity. A committee has been formed under NITI Aayog member VK Paul to lay out standards for world-class critical care in India as the country eyes significant surge in medical value travel in the coming years, besides helping the nation prepare better for any Covid-like pandemic in future. The Aayog is studying global standards and will soon initiate stakeholder consultations to draft an India-centric framework for critical care, the official said. "Two evident gaps in critical care are infrastructure and human resources. India needs guidelines to fix these key aspects of critical care to up its standards and ensure that only people in genuine need avail of these services," the official added. Experts point towards imbalance between availability and access to critical care in India. "India faces an acute drain of talent, both doctors and support staff trained in critical care, which impacts the quality of critical care services in the country," Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, past president, Indian Medical Association, Kochi, said, adding there was a pressing need for updated specialised equipment at intensive care units to address the infrastructure gap as well. "The framework should emphasise critical care protocols, requisite infrastructure, well trained and well credentialed doctors and support staff to raise the standards of critical care in India," he added. India has guidelines for intensive care unit admission, but these are often ignored and admission to critical care units of ICUs happen for social reasons, sometimes depriving genuine patients of the critical care they deserve, an industry expert said, requesting not to be identified. "Some standards are already in place but they are not adhered to on the ground largely because of scarcity of infrastructure and huge gap in demand and supply of critical care beds in the country," the expert added. Industry body Ficci pegs the medical value travel (MVT) in India at $13 billion by 2026 compared to around $6 billion in 2022 with patients for Bangladesh, Iraq, Maldives, Afghanistan, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania accounting for about 88% of the total international patients visiting India.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Docs warn about risk of diseases among children
Kochi: With schools set to reopen next week and a change in climate due to early rains , doctors warn that there will be a spread of infectious diseases , waterborne diseases , fungal infections and dengue. Doctors have warned that children and the vulnerable need to be careful. Health experts said schools need to undertake mosquito control measures on the campus to ensure that schools don't become a hub of dengue spread and to ensure supply of uncontaminated drinking water. Also, school authorities and parents need to ensure that children with fever don't come to school and spread it to other children. "We will be sending a monsoon advisory to schools soon," said IMA-Kerala research cell chairman Dr Rajeev Jayadevan. Small children are the most vulnerable as they don't have exposure to most of the pathogens. When they go to school and mingle with others, their risk of infection increases. According to experts, it is normal for a child to fall sick due to viral infection around seven to eight times a year, till the age of seven. They said that Covid-19 pandemic had a wide-ranging impact on children's health and staying at home for two long years took a toll on their immunity. In schools and other playing areas, kids are exposed to various allergens such as pollen, dust, weed and viral infections, among others, and this manifests as, for instance, allergic cough. "These are public health-related issues mostly because of failure to ensure proper cleanliness and hygiene. Lack of pre-monsoon preparedness is also a concern," said Indian Academy of Pediatrics former national president Dr S Sachidananda Kamath.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Docs warn about risk of diseases among children
Kochi: With schools set to reopen next week and a change in climate due to early rains, doctors warn that there will be a spread of infectious diseases, waterborne diseases, fungal infections and dengue. Doctors have warned that children and the vulnerable need to be careful. Health experts said schools need to undertake mosquito control measures on the campus to ensure that schools don't become a hub of dengue spread and to ensure supply of uncontaminated drinking water. Also, school authorities and parents need to ensure that children with fever don't come to school and spread it to other children. "We will be sending a monsoon advisory to schools soon," said IMA-Kerala research cell chairman Dr Rajeev Jayadevan. Small children are the most vulnerable as they don't have exposure to most of the pathogens. When they go to school and mingle with others, their risk of infection increases. According to experts, it is normal for a child to fall sick due to viral infection around seven to eight times a year, till the age of seven. They said that Covid-19 pandemic had a wide-ranging impact on children's health and staying at home for two long years took a toll on their immunity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In schools and other playing areas, kids are exposed to various allergens such as pollen, dust, weed and viral infections, among others, and this manifests as, for instance, allergic cough. "These are public health-related issues mostly because of failure to ensure proper cleanliness and hygiene. Lack of pre-monsoon preparedness is also a concern," said Indian Academy of Pediatrics former national president Dr S Sachidananda Kamath.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
'Is Coronavirus back or did it ever leave?' Medical Expert explains surge in cases
There is a surge in COVID-19 cases globally, with countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand seeing a rise in infections. India, too, is seeing a new wave with a surge of cases in Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. In Mumbai, two recent deaths were linked to COVID-19. We will be talking to Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, an expert who was the Co-Chairman of the National IMA COVID Task Force
