Tejal Somvanshi
India’s COVID-19 cases have shot up dramatically in just one week. The country now has 3,758 active cases, marking a massive 1200% increase from the 257 cases reported on May 22. This sharp rise has caught health officials’ attention as new virus strains spread across different states.
Kerala leads the surge with 1,400 active cases, followed by Maharashtra with 486 cases and Delhi with 436 cases. Other affected states include Gujarat with 320 cases, Karnataka with 238 cases, West Bengal with 287 cases, Tamil Nadu with 199 cases, and Uttar Pradesh with 149 cases.
The current wave has resulted in 28 deaths since January 2025, with most recent fatalities occurring in people who had other serious health problems. In the past 24 hours alone, two people died – a 63-year-old man in Karnataka who had lung tuberculosis and mouth cancer, and a 24-year-old woman in Kerala who suffered from liver disease and high blood pressure.
What’s Causing This Surge
Scientists have identified four new virus variants behind this outbreak: NB.1.8.1, LF.7, XFG, and JN.1. These are all modified versions of the Omicron strain that caused widespread infections in 2022. The World Health Organization has labeled NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 as “Variants Under Monitoring” because they spread faster than older versions.
Dr. Rajiv Behl from the Indian Council of Medical Research explains that these new variants can partially dodge the body’s immune defenses, even in people who were vaccinated or had COVID before. However, he stresses that most infections remain mild. “There’s nothing to worry about. We should be vigilant and always be prepared,” he said.
Early warning signs came from sewage testing in cities like Bengaluru and Pune. Dr. Rakesh Mishra from the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society found significant increases in virus levels in wastewater weeks before cases were officially reported. In Bengaluru, the positivity rate jumped from 10% on May 28 to 24% on May 30.
New Symptoms to Watch
Unlike previous waves where people lost their sense of taste and smell, doctors now report hoarseness as a key symptom. Patients develop scratchy, rough voices along with dry coughs and throat pain. Other common signs include low fever, tiredness, and sometimes stomach problems.
The good news is that most people recover at home without needing hospital care. Deaths have mainly occurred in patients with existing health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, or those recovering from recent surgeries.
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Government Response
State governments are taking precautions without creating panic. Karnataka has advised parents to keep children with flu symptoms home from school. The central government has directed hospitals to ensure they have enough beds, oxygen supplies, and medicines ready.
Union Health Minister Prataprao Jadhav assures citizens that India is well-prepared based on infrastructure built during earlier COVID waves, including oxygen plants and ICU facilities.
Health experts recommend simple protective measures: wearing masks in crowded places, washing hands regularly, maintaining distance from sick people, and staying up-to-date with vaccinations. Good ventilation at home and work also helps reduce virus spread.
While this surge looks concerning on paper, medical professionals emphasize that current vaccines still protect against severe illness. The key is staying alert without panicking, especially for older adults and people with chronic health conditions who face higher risks.
The situation mirrors what happened recently in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, suggesting this could be part of a regional pattern rather than something unique to India.
