As cities like Singapore and Hong Kong report a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, India’s health authorities are taking no chances. Officials of the Union Health Ministry said that there is no cause for panic but to stay alert and informed.
However, to ensure it is not caught unawares in light of the developments in Asia, the Ministry held a meeting with experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and other key institutions to review India’s readiness.
According to official data, Singapore saw weekly cases rise from 11,100 to 14,200 between April 27 and May 3. Daily hospitalisations increased modestly, but ICU admissions actually declined from three to two per day. Hospitals remain fully capable of managing the uptick.
In Hong Kong, COVID-19 activity has picked up, with the positivity rate in respiratory samples doubling over the past month to 13.66%, the highest in a year.
Authorities in both cities attribute the rise to waning immunity in the population and the emergence of new but not more dangerous variants.
A senior official from the Union Health Ministry shared that In Hong Kong, a new variant called XDV has become dominant since late March while in Singapore, the variants LF.7 and NB.1.8 — both related to the earlier JN.1 strain — are now responsible for most new cases.
Importantly, and much to the everybody’s relief in India none of these variants are linked to more severe illness or higher risk of death.
Health authorities in both regions expect periodic waves of COVID-19 to continue, as the virus has now become an endemic part of the global respiratory disease landscape.
India, by comparison, remains in a very stable phase of the pandemic. As of May 19, there are just 257 active cases across the country with Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra topping the list, nearly all of which are mild and do not require hospital care. Few cases have poured in from Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat, Delhi and Haryana.
“There’s no reason for panic,” said Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, former ICMR’s infectious disease expert. “What we are seeing is a natural, expected part of the virus’s endemic cycle. Unless we start seeing spikes in hospitalisations or deaths, the risk to the general public remains low.”
Health experts have advised the public to follow simple norms like adopting Covid-appropriate simple behaviour.
While the situation is under control, one should adopt COVID-appropriate behaviour, especially the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
“Practice hand hygiene, wear masks in crowded or enclosed spaces and avoid unnecessary travel if you feel unwell,” he suggested.
