India has reported a total of 6,491 active COVID-19 cases as of 8:00 AM on Monday, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
In the past 24 hours, the country has recorded 358 new infections, though encouragingly, no new fatalities linked to the virus have been reported during this period.
This steady rise in daily cases is being closely monitored by public health authorities, particularly in light of the detection of several emerging Omicron sub-variants—namely JN.1, NB.1.8.1, LF.7, and XFC—which are currently driving the resurgence across multiple states. While these sub-variants exhibit higher transmissibility, medical experts have noted that they are generally associated with mild to moderate symptoms in most cases.
State-Wise Situation
The southern state of Kerala continues to report the highest number of active cases, with its caseload reaching 1,957 as of Monday morning. Other states showing an uptick in infections include Gujarat, West Bengal, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, which alone reported 42 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing its total active cases to 728.
Recovery and Public Health Measures
A total of 624 patients have recovered, been discharged, or migrated from the active caseload over the past day. This reflects the continued effectiveness of medical intervention and community health efforts.
In response to the recent increase in cases, the Central Government has initiated mock drills across healthcare facilities nationwide. These exercises aim to assess the operational readiness of hospitals, including the availability of isolation wards, oxygen supplies, ventilators, and critical medications.
Surveillance and Genomic Sequencing
Enhanced surveillance protocols have also been activated. The Ministry has directed the monitoring of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases, in line with existing guidelines. All hospitalized SARI cases and at least 5% of ILI cases are being tested for COVID-19. Positive samples are subsequently sent for whole genome sequencing through the ICMR-VRDL network to track the evolution and spread of variants.
Virus Behavior and Public Advisory
According to health experts, SARS-CoV-2—the virus responsible for COVID-19—has not disappeared, but its behavior has shifted away from an emergency threat to a more seasonal and cyclical pattern, akin to the influenza virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has currently classified the aforementioned sub-variants as “Variants Under Monitoring”, indicating a need for vigilance but not immediate concern.
The Ministry continues to urge citizens to follow basic precautionary measures, including maintaining hygiene, staying home when symptomatic, and seeking medical advice in case of respiratory illness. Vaccination remains a key tool in minimizing the risk of severe outcomes.
The situation is under control, but the evolving nature of the virus demands sustained cooperation from both healthcare institutions and the general public, said the Ministry.
