New COVID-19 subvariants fuel case surge across India | Fusion - WeRIndia

India is experiencing a renewed increase in COVID-19 cases, with active infections climbing to 3,758 as of Sunday, according to official health data.

Several states have reported a rise in case numbers, with Kerala and Delhi leading the surge.

Kerala reported the highest number of infections at 1,400, while Delhi logged 436 new cases.

Maharashtra followed with 485 cases, Gujarat recorded 320, West Bengal confirmed 287, and Uttar Pradesh saw 149 fresh cases.

These figures reflect a noticeable upward trend, though hospitalisations remain low so far.

The country also reported two recent COVID-related deaths. One occurred in Karnataka, involving a 63-year-old man with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis and oral cancer.

The second was a 24-year-old woman in Kerala who had underlying health conditions, including hypertension, sepsis, and chronic liver disease. Both had tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of death.

Dr Rajiv Behl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said the latest rise in cases is linked to emerging Omicron subvariants.

At a media briefing, he said that genomic sequencing in southern and western India had found four subvariants: LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1.

He explained that LF.7, XFG, and JN.1 were the most commonly found among them.

Despite the increase in cases, Dr. Behl emphasised that current data did not indicate the subvariants were more severe or dangerous than previous strains.

He said there was no reason to panic but advised the public to remain cautious and continue following preventive measures.

Health authorities are advising citizens to take basic precautions such as wearing masks in crowded settings, maintaining hand hygiene, and getting vaccinated.

Vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, are especially urged to stay protected.

While the current wave appears to be mild in nature, health experts and the government are closely tracking the situation.

Continued surveillance and public awareness are key to managing any potential risks associated with the evolving virus.

Image by Tmaximumge from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on April 17, 2020

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1608796