India saw 164 Covid cases since May 12; Centre on alert amid fresh wave in Asia

 

The LF.7 and NB.1.8 mutations of the JN.1 variant, descendant of the Omicron BA.2.86, are the most commonly found in the recently reported cases. 

The surging number of Covid-19 cases in southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Hong Kong raised alarms in India, with health authorities conducting a review meeting and asserting that the situation in the nation was 'under control'.

Experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, Emergency Medical Relief division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research and central government hospitals, held a review meeting on Monday under the chairpersonship of the director general of health services.

An official source, as cited by news agency PTI, said, "The meeting concluded that the current Covid-19 situation in India remains under control. As of May 19, 2025, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India stands at 257, a very low figure considering the country's large population. Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalisation required."

However, the Union health ministry continues to proactively monitor the situation closely and ensure that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard public health.

The rise in Covid-19 cases in southeast Asia are mostly triggered by the JN.1 variant, a descendant of the Omicron BA.2.86 variant. As per the World Health Organisation, the JN.1 variant has around 30 mutations, and among them are LF.7 and NB.1.8, the two most common versions among the recently reported cases.

How many cases India has reported since May 12?

Covid cases in India: As per the data from the ministry of health and family welfare, India reported 164 cases since May 12. Kerala reported the highest number of cases at 69, followed by Maharashtra at 44 and Tamil Nadu at 34.

Karnataka reported 8 new cases of Covid-19, while Gujarat accounted for 6 and Delhi 3. Haryana, Rajasthan, and Sikkim reported one new case each.

The ministry noted that the active cases in Kerala, however, was at 95, adding that "further reconciliation of mortality figures is ongoing".

Currently, India has a total of 257 active cases of Covid-19. As many as 4,45,11,240 persons have been discharged and 5,33,666 deaths have been recorded, official data showed.

2 hospital deaths spark concern in Mumbai

The deaths of two Covid-19 patients at the civic-run KEM hospital in Mumbai sparked concerns over Covid-19. However, the hospital has clarified that the deaths were not related to coronavirus, but were due to co-morbidities.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had said in a statement that deaths of two Covid-infected patients, a 14-year-old girl and a woman aged 54, were reported at KEM hospital in Parel. However, hospital authorities said that they were due to serious diseases like nephrotic syndrome with hypocalcemic seizures and cancer.

BMC clarified that there was no need for people to panic. It further said that Covid-19 is now considered as an endemic and ongoing health problem and very few cases of the virus are being found.