New Delhi, June 8: India reported a fresh uptick in COVID-19 infections on Friday, with active cases climbing to 5,755, according to the Union Health Ministry, marking a more than 200% increase in less than a month. Health officials have attributed the rise to newer, highly transmissible variants NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, though most cases remain mild.
The country recorded 764 new infections and four deaths in the past 24 hours, including fatalities in Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The deceased included a nine-month pregnant woman in Madhya Pradesh and an elderly man in Tamil Nadu with underlying conditions.
Kerala remained the worst-affected state, reporting 1,806 active cases, including 127 new infections and one death – a 59-year-old lung cancer patient. Gujarat followed with over 700 cases, having logged a spike of more than 100 new infections within a day. Delhi and West Bengal each reported over 600 cases, while Maharashtra’s tally rose to 577.
Maharashtra recorded 114 new cases on Friday, with the highest counts from Pune (44) and Mumbai (37). The state has reported 18 deaths since January. Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana also reported fresh clusters, with Chhattisgarh detecting 50 cases following screenings in the wake of variant spread.
In response to the surge, the central government conducted a nationwide hospital preparedness drill on June 5, testing oxygen supply systems, ventilator availability, isolation bed capacity, and stockpiles of essential medicines. Health authorities also held technical review meetings earlier this week, chaired by Director General of Health Services Dr. Sunita Sharma.
The Centre has urged states to monitor Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases. Samples from hospitalized patients are being sent for whole genome sequencing through the ICMR network to track emerging variants.
Health experts maintain that COVID-19 has now entered an endemic phase, with seasonal patterns of infection and localized outbreaks. While symptoms remain mild in most patients, vulnerable individuals with conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or respiratory disorders are advised to take precautions.
The World Health Organization declared an end to COVID-19’s status as a global health emergency in May 2023, but officials warn that vigilance remains essential amid ongoing viral evolution.
