New Delhi: India’s Covid-19 situation continues to escalate, with active cases rising to 4,302 as of Wednesday morning at 8 am, an increase from 4,026 reported on Tuesday, as per data available from the Union Health Ministry.
Two additional fatalities have brought the year’s death toll to seven.
Over the past 24 hours, nearly 300 new infections were reported, with Kerala registering the highest number. Notably, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, too, have experienced a marked rise in cases.
Meanwhile, 3,281 patients have recovered and have been discharged. The recent spike includes 60 new cases in West Bengal, 63 in Uttar Pradesh, and 64 in Delhi.
Just a day earlier, Delhi recorded 47 new cases, and Kerala reported 35. Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation, although hospitalisation rates remain relatively low.
For the first time, Himachal Pradesh reported its first case of the latest surge in Nahan, Sirmaur district, on Tuesday, indicating the virus’s continued spread across regions.
The resurgence has been driven by four predominant variants—LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1. Notably, NB.1.8.1 is a newly identified sub-variant in India, classified by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution as a ‘Variant Under Monitoring’ due to its significant genetic changes, though its epidemiological impact remains uncertain.
While multiple nations are witnessing renewed increases in Covid-19 cases, the overall fatality rate remains low, with most infected individuals experiencing mild symptoms.
In response to the rising numbers, the governments of Delhi and Uttarakhand have issued advisories urging hospitals to prepare adequately by ensuring sufficient beds, oxygen supplies, medicines, and vaccines.
Currently, the most prevalent variant in India is JN.1, accounting for 53% of tested samples, followed by BA.2 at 26%, along with other Omicron sublineages making up the remaining 20%, as per the health experts.
Earlier Cases
Covid-19 active cases in India have crossed 4,000 mark with five deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Six States–Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, West Bengal and Karnataka accounted for over 72% of the total 4,026 active covid infections, an increase of 512 from yesterday, said the Ministry.
Kerala Tops The List
Kerala topped the list with 1,416 active infections, followed by Maharashtra (494), Gujarat (397), Delhi (393), West Bengal (372), and Karnataka (311). Delhi reported four deaths and Maharashtra two, while Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal reported one death each. On Monday, four deaths were reported from across the country, as per the government data.
Several Complications
Health officials said that most of the fatalities reflected complications from co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac conditions. Senior citizens were among the deceased. An 80-year-old male from Kerala with severe pneumonia and a 73-year-old woman in Maharashtra with diabetes and hypertension were among those who died due to Covid.
ICMR Assurance
The majority of infections are mild and being treated at home, said officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Health Ministry. They have assured the public there’s no need for panic but urged continued vigilance.
“We are closely tracking developments. At this stage, there is no reason for concern, but monitoring and caution are essential,” Dr Rajiv Behl, Director General of ICMR had said recently.
As per the Ministry, the current spike is linked to newer Omicron sub-variants—LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1—detected in parts of western and southern India through genome sequencing.