Against the backdrop of increasing Covid-19 reports from Hong Kong and Singapore, health experts at the Centre and States maintain that most of the cases being reported in India are mild.

Responding to concerns arising from reports of two Covid-19 linked deaths in Mumbai, a Health Ministry source pointed out that both patients had serious underlying illnesses. Meanwhile, several hospitals across the country told businessline, they were not seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases, but have protocols in place to handle the same.

A recent review meeting chaired by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) 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,” an official source said. Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are said to have reported higher numbers.

Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalisation required, the source said, adding that a robust system for surveillance of respiratory viral illnesses including Covid-19 exists in the country through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Indian Council of Medical Research.

JN.1 variant

Doctors point out that the current increase is being caused by a JN.1 descendant, from the Omicron sub-variant family; and the symptoms being seen included a runny nose, sore throat and fatigue. A lingering symptom or people with compromised immunity should check with their doctor, a practitioner, however, added.

The current variant causing Covid-19 in the said Asian countries is not very different from that witnessed during the last waves of the pandemic, said Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director, Max Healthcare & Senior Director - Institute of Internal Medicine.

The common-sense behaviour that people need to adopt include using a mask and keeping oneself indoors if infected, besides regular hygiene and hand-washing. He also called for surveillance and reporting of cases between countries. Screening and quarantining infected people would become important if an increase in cases is seen across many countries, he added.

Published on May 20, 2025