New Delhi : After months of lull, Covid-19 seems to be making a slow return across urban centres in India, prompting states and UTs like Delhi, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh to put hospitals on alert. Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have all reported fresh cases this month.
Most of the cases are mild and not associated with severity. No deaths have been reported so far. The surge in Covid cases in South Asia is likely being driven by the spread of the JN.1 variant (a sub-variant of Omicron). The symptoms are usually mild and those infected recover within four days. Some common symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, exhaustion.
Delhi has registered 23 coronavirus cases, prompting the BJP government to direct hospitals to maintain the availability of beds, oxygen cylinders, testing kits, and vaccines. Delhi has also directed hospitals to upload daily Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases on the integrated health data platform.
Delhi-NCR cities like Noida and Ghaziabad have also registered coronavirus cases. On Saturday, Noida reported the first Covid patient (55) in the ongoing wave. Ghaziabad has also reported four cases so far. Kerala, with 273 Covid infections in May, has reported the maximum cases, prompting the Health Minister to direct all districts to increase surveillance.
The state has made masks mandatory in hospitals, and has advised people with cough symptoms to wear face coverings. Neighbouring Karnataka has also witnessed a slight uptick in Covid cases, registering 35 infections. Among them is a nine-month-old baby from Hoskote.