India reports slight increase in COVID cases amid new wave in Asia

Even as there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in Asia, particularly Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, over the last few days, India has only witnessed a mild ‘uptick’.

India currently has 257 active COVID-19 cases, with an increase of 164 cases over the past week. However, these are mild cases and do not require hospitalisation.

Slight increase

According to official statistics from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Kerala (95) has reported the highest number of recent infections with 69 new cases since May 12, followed by Maharashtra (44) and Tamil Nadu (34).

Also read: COVID deaths under-reported: Gujarat tops; Kerala accurate, says govt data

Other states reporting new infections include Karnataka (8), Gujarat (6), Delhi (3), and one case each in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.

In Mumbai, two deaths at the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital were initially reported as COVID-19 deaths. However, the hospital later clarified that the deaths were from co-morbidities or pre-existing conditions and not COVID-19.

Situation under control

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asked citizens to stay calm and not panic, further stating that COVID-19 is now considered to be endemic and an ongoing health problem with very few infections and cases.

Authorities have directed hospitals to stay alert and monitor for cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), but stress that the situation is well under control.

Surveillance is being maintained through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR networks, ensuring early detection and response to any changes in the situation.

Also read: India’s 2020 COVID death toll was 8 times official figure, 11.9 lakh higher: Study

The Indian Health Ministry has also maintained a close watch on the development of COVID-19 cases, ensuring that adequate protections are undertaken to reduce any spread.

Global rise in cases

Globally, the situation looks different. A new wave of COVID-19 cases has begun surfacing through several Southeast Asian nations including Singapore, Thailand, China and Hong Kong.

According to Singapore’s Health Ministry, weekly infections have seen a concerning surge from 11,100 cases in late April to 14,200 in the first week of May, showing a 28 per cent jump.

Singaporean authorities gave a new report, stating that these spreads are only due to the waning immunity of Singaporeans, and new impact from upcoming variants such as the JN.1 variant.

According to the Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection, the virus’ activity in the city has increased, with positive tests increasing over the week. COVID-19 activity has climbed to a “quite high” level, said Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch at the Centre for Health Protection. Respiratory samples testing positive for the virus have reached their highest point in a year

Uptick in Thailand

In Thailand, cases spiked to 33,030 between May 11 and May 17, with at least 6,000 cases in Bangkok, according to the Department of Disease Control. The spread of the XEC variant, a strain of Omicron, has led to an uptick in the cases.

Also read: Deaths of 2 patients at KEM Hospital not linked to COVID: BMC

The Songkran festival and the subsequent holiday period from April 13 to April 15 in Thailand could also have been a catalyst for the increasing cases.

China records surge

COVID-19 cases are also rising in China, where the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that from March 31 to May 4, the COVID-19 positivity rate among outpatient and emergency influenza-like cases nationwide increased from 7.5 per cent to 16.2 per cent, showing a concerning rise of a new wave similar to the one that swept through China in 2023.

While cases seem to be on the rise, there has been a consistent and positive decrease in fatalities, as the wave seems to have lost its effectiveness. Experts have advised citizens to continue receiving their booster vaccines to prevent any sort of spread.

India’s preparedness

Indian health authorities have kept the country prepared and asserted that the domestic situation remains firmly under control.

The Health Ministry on Monday conducted a comprehensive review amid the sharp rise in COVID cases in Singapore and Hong Kong and ensured adequate readiness is maintained in the case of an outbreak.

Also read: 5 years of Covid lockdown: From WFH to OTT, 5 changes that stayed on

A high-level meeting chaired by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) was attended by officials from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) Division, Disaster Management Cell, and key central government hospitals.

India has seen a very meagre increase in cases, that too of a mild capacity and thus, creating false alarms of a new wave would only serve to create mass confusion.