India is currently managing 257 active COVID-19 cases, the majority of which are mild and do not require hospitalisation, according to official figures.
Kerala has emerged as the state with the highest number of recent cases, reporting 69 new infections since May 12. Maharashtra follows with 44 cases, and Tamil Nadu has recorded 34. Other states noting new cases include Karnataka (8), Gujarat (6), Delhi (3), and single cases reported from Haryana, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.
Mumbai has recently reported two COVID-related deaths at King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital. As cited in a report by Hindustan Times, both patients had underlying health issues. One was a 14-year-old with kidney failure due to nephrotic syndrome, and the other was a 54-year-old receiving treatment for cancer.
While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has acknowledged a slight rise in COVID-19 infections this month, officials have emphasized that the situation does not warrant alarm at this stage.
Hospitals have been advised to stay vigilant, especially for cases showing symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). Monitoring continues through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) networks to ensure swift detection and response.
Global Concerns Rise Over Southeast Asia Surge
Internationally, rising COVID-19 numbers have sparked concern. In Singapore, weekly cases rose from 11,100 in late April to 14,200 during the first week of May—a 28% increase.
Hong Kong, too, has experienced a spike, reporting its highest weekly death toll from COVID-19 in a year with 31 deaths in early May. The number of infections there jumped to 1,042 from 972 the previous week, a dramatic increase from only 33 weekly cases in early March.
As these developments unfold, Indian health officials have reassured the public that the domestic situation is stable. In response to the growing cases abroad—especially those driven by Omicron subvariants such as JN.1 and its related strains—the Ministry of Health conducted a high-level review on Monday.
The meeting, led by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), brought together representatives from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), ICMR, the Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) Division, Disaster Management Cell, and several major Central government hospitals to assess preparedness and reinforce surveillance efforts.