Covid-19 Cases Rising Again: 257 Active Cases in India, Shall we be Worried? Here’s What Health Department Says

Covid-19 Cases Rising Agai: Health Ministry is monitoring the situation with heightened vigilance, especially in light of significant surges.

India has reported a fresh uptick in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, with the total active caseload standing at 257, according to official data. While the rise remains modest, the Health Ministry is monitoring the situation with heightened vigilance, especially in light of significant surges being reported across other Asian countries.

“As per the preliminary information available, the cases are mostly mild, not associated with unusual severity or mortality,” said a senior health official, indicating that India is currently not witnessing any alarming trends in terms of hospitalisations or complications.

Despite the mild nature of infections, the Centre has ramped up surveillance. A high-level review meeting was recently convened under the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and attended by experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) Division, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Disaster Management Cell, and key central hospitals.

The Health Ministry has assured that it remains “vigilant and proactive” and is closely tracking any emerging patterns of concern, including potential new variants and regional outbreaks.

India’s Readiness and Response

Despite the regional spike, India’s health infrastructure is currently not under any visible pressure. No significant increase in hospital admissions or ICU occupancy has been reported. Additionally, there is no official confirmation yet of the presence of LF.7, NB.1.8, or JN.1 variants in India.

Officials continue to monitor the situation and have urged the public, especially high-risk groups, to stay vigilant. While there is no mandate for new restrictions, the advisory stresses the importance of booster vaccinations, mask usage in crowded places, and timely testing for symptomatic individuals.

As the rest of Asia navigates another wave of COVID-19, India’s cautious and coordinated approach aims to maintain its current level of control. However, health authorities warn that continued vigilance is key to avoiding any future escalation.

Asia Witnesses a Regional Spike

While India maintains control over its COVID-19 situation, several neighbouring countries are seeing steep surges. Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China have all reported noticeable increases in infections over the past month.

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health recorded 14,200 cases between April 27 and May 3, 2025, up from 11,100 the previous week. Hospitalisations also rose during the same period from 102 to 133 per day. However, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions dipped slightly, from three to two cases per day, suggesting that most infections remain non-severe.

Thailand reported 33,030 new cases between May 11 and 17, with the capital, Bangkok, accounting for over 6,000 cases. Health authorities there attributed the surge largely to the Songkran festival held between April 13 and 15, which involved widespread travel and public gatherings.

In Hong Kong, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 jumped from 6.21% to 13.66% within four weeks (April 6 to May 12). Dr Edwin Tsui, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, noted that the city has seen cyclical surges every six to nine months since the resumption of normalcy, suggesting a shift towards endemic patterns of infection.

China has also seen rising numbers. Between March 31 and May 4, the positivity rate among patients with flu-like symptoms in clinics and emergency rooms rose from 7.5% to 16.2%, and from 3.3% to 6.3% among hospitalised patients, according to the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

What’s Driving the Global Rise?

Health authorities across Asia have cited several contributing factors for the spike in cases. Key among them is waning immunity, both from past infections and outdated vaccinations. Many populations, particularly vulnerable groups like the elderly, have not received booster shots in over a year.

Singapore’s health ministry pointed specifically to two emerging subvariants—LF.7 and NB.1.8—both descendants of the JN.1 Omicron lineage first identified in 2024. These strains are more transmissible and now account for more than two-thirds of sequenced cases in Singapore. JN.1 is also the basis of the latest COVID-19 vaccine formulations.

Seasonal factors, increased international travel, and social mixing due to festivals and holidays are also playing a significant role in the transmission of the virus across the region.

In Hong Kong, health authorities described the current trend as a “periodic pattern” of infection linked to evolving variants and declining herd immunity. “Covid-19 has evolved into an endemic disease with periodic spikes,” said Dr Tsui, indicating that similar cycles may become the norm globally.

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