Covid-19 Situation in India Under Control Despite Rise in Asia
Ministry of Health confirms India’s Covid-19 cases are low and manageable, while neighboring countries face a spike from new Omicron subvariants.
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India’s health authorities have stated that the Covid-19 situation remains stable, despite rising infections in parts of Asia such as Singapore and Hong Kong. The Ministry of Health’s review on Monday confirmed that the current status of Covid-19 in India is manageable, with only 257 active cases reported nationwide as of May 19.
A high-level meeting convened by the Director General of Health Services included representatives from the National Centre for Disease Control, Emergency Medical Relief, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research, and major government hospitals. According to official sources, the vast majority of these cases are mild and have not required hospitalization.
The discussion came amid reports of escalating Covid-19 outbreaks in Singapore and Hong Kong, where new Omicron subvariants including JN.1 and related strains have driven a significant increase in infections and hospital admissions.
Leading epidemiologist Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar highlighted that the public should stay alert without undue worry. He pointed out that unless there is a clear rise in hospitalizations or death rates, there is no cause for alarm. He reaffirmed that Covid-19 is now considered endemic in India.
He advised vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, to continue practicing preventive measures including proper hand hygiene, mask use, and avoiding crowded spaces.
Dr. Gangakhedkar highlighted that India possesses an effective vaccine targeting the Omicron variant, GEMCOVAC-19, produced by Gennova Biopharmaceuticals in Pune. Vaccine production could be increased promptly if case numbers surge unexpectedly, though current trends show no cause for concern.
Since May 12, Kerala has registered the highest number of new Covid-19 cases at 69, followed by Maharashtra with 44, and Tamil Nadu with 34. Other states such as Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Sikkim are reporting fewer than 10 new cases each.
Hospitals nationwide have been instructed to intensify surveillance for symptoms resembling influenza and severe respiratory infections to promptly identify any escalation.
The Union Health Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing vigilance through established surveillance programs like the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the Indian Council of Medical Research’s monitoring systems.
While India’s Covid-19 numbers remain low, neighboring regions are experiencing increased viral activity. Singapore reported a 28 per cent jump in weekly infections, rising from 11,100 cases in late April to 14,200 in early May. Hospital admissions related to Covid-19 also climbed by 30 per cent.
Hong Kong faced its highest weekly Covid-19 death toll in a year, recording 31 fatalities for the week ending May 3. New infections there rose to 1,042 in the week ending May 10, up from 972 the previous week.
