COVID active cases surge to 1,000-plus in a week; 100 new cases in Delhi
Kerala has highest number with 430, Maharashtra is second with 209 and Delhi is third with 104; Union health ministry says cases are mild, patients in home care
The active COVID cases in the country has shot up to 1,009 from 257 last week. Overall, the country reported a significant jump in cases to 752 cases and also recorded seven deaths due to this infectious disease in the last one week.
According to the central COVID-19 dashboard, the total number of active cases across the country stands at 1,009. On May 19, the number was at just 257 with Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka registering a spike in cases.
The seven deaths due to COVID have been reported from Maharashtra, which had four deaths, Kerala saw two, and one was from Karnataka.
Kerala tops COVID cases
Kerala tops the list of states fighting the latest surge with 430 coronavirus cases, followed by Maharashtra with 209 cases. Delhi stands third at 104, as per data released by the government on Monday (May 26) morning.
Also read: COVID-19 resurgence in India: 4 die in Maharashtra; what experts say
Gujarat has 83 cases, Karnataka 47, Uttar Pradesh 15, and West Bengal 12.
In the last week, Kerala has reported 335 fresh infections, taking its total active cases to 430, while Maharashtra and Delhi saw 153 and 99 new cases respectively.
100 new cases in Delhi
In the nation’s capital, which was one of the worst affected places during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, over 100 new coronavirus cases have emerged.
Delhi has at least 104 active cases, out of which 99 were reported in the last week.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, however, told reporters that there is no cause for panic and assured that the hospitals are prepared to tackle any further surge in cases.
The minister said the cases so far were reported by private labs and that the latest variant has normal influenza-like symptoms. "We have details of the COVID-19 cases. Our hospitals have all the facilities. We have also issued an advisory," the CM told reporters, according to PTI.
States with no active cases
No active case has been reported from Andaman and Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir.
Also read: COVID surge and future strategies: Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains
The COVID-19 cases in India had come down after free and rapid vaccination was carried out in all age groups, giving relief from strict containment rules.
Two new variants
According to the health ministry, COVID variants, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, which are behind the COVID cases in China and other parts of Asia, were found in India recently.
One case of NB.1.8.1 was reported in Tamil Nadu in April, while four cases of LF.7 were detected in May. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified both LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs), not as Variants of Concern (VOCs) or Variants of Interest (VOIs).
Cases are mild: Health ministry
Meanwhile, the health ministry reviewed the situation and said that cases have been reported mainly from states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka etc. These cases are mostly mild and they are under home care, added the ministry.
Also read: India sees mild surge in COVID cases; 'no cause for alarm', say health experts
Further, the ministry told the media 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.
The country's respective National IHR focal points have said that there is no indication the circulating variants are “more transmissible or cause more severe disease” compared to the previously circulating variants.
“The Union health ministry remains vigilant and through its multiple agencies, is proactively monitoring the situation closely,” added the release.