COVID-19 Cases Rise Gradually Across Several Indian States

Recent Increase in COVID-19 Cases

Last week, a gradual rise in COVID-19 cases was observed in multiple states, with health officials confirming that most recent infections are mild in nature. This uptick has been particularly noted in southern states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana, as well as in Delhi and Maharashtra.

New Cases Reported in Maharashtra

In light of the increasing cases, the central health secretary chaired a high-level review meeting on Saturday with top officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The meeting focused on prevention efforts and monitoring strategies to track the virus's spread. According to the health department, Maharashtra reported 43 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total active cases in the state to 209. Of these, Mumbai accounted for 35 new cases, while Pune reported 8.

COVID-19 Cases in Maharashtra Since January

Since January, Maharashtra has recorded a total of 300 COVID-19 cases, with the monthly breakdown as follows: January (1), February (1), March (0), April (4), and a significant surge in May (242), which constitutes 80% of all cases this year. Notably, Mumbai has reported 248 cases, representing 82.67% of the state's total infections.

Mild Nature of Most COVID-19 Cases in India

Across the country, COVID-19 cases are steadily rising, with Kerala reporting the highest number of infections, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Delhi has also seen a slight increase in recent cases. However, the central health ministry has indicated that most reported cases are mild and are being managed at home, with no signs of increased severity or transmissibility of the currently circulating variants. Following the slight rise in cases across several Indian states, the ministry has issued a consultation urging citizens to remain vigilant but not panic.

National Surveillance System in Place

The ministry emphasized that a robust national surveillance system is in place through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the sentinel surveillance network of the ICMR, which continues to monitor respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. According to INSACOG data, one case of the emerging COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and four cases of the LF.7 variant have been identified in India. By May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as variants under monitoring (VUM), rather than variants of concern (VOC) or variants of interest (VOI). However, these variants are reportedly contributing to the rise in COVID-19 cases in China and parts of Asia. INSACOG also noted that the JN.1 variant remains the most prevalent in India, present in 53% of tested samples, followed by BA.2 at 26% and other Omicron sublineages at 20%.