India has recorded 752 new Covid-19 cases in the past week, pushing the country’s total active caseload to over 1,000, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry on Monday morning. The spike in infections comes amid the detection of two new variants of the virus—NB.1.8.1 and LF.7—identified by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
Kerala reported the highest number of new infections with 335 fresh cases, raising its active caseload to 430. Maharashtra followed with 153 new cases and 209 active patients, while Delhi saw 99 new infections, with active cases now at 104.
Other states reporting a noticeable uptick include Gujarat (83 cases), Karnataka (47), Uttar Pradesh (15), and West Bengal (12).
The recent surge prompted the Union Health Secretary to review the national situation on Saturday. ‘Cases have mainly been reported from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Most infections are mild and under home care,’ the Health Ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, INSACOG has flagged the presence of two new Covid-19 variants—NB.1.8.1 and LF.7. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently classifies both as ‘Variants Under Monitoring,’ indicating that they are not yet considered either Variants of Concern (VoC) or Variants of Interest (VoI).
Experts have urged continued vigilance but have also reassured the public that the majority of current cases are not severe and are being managed at home. The Health Ministry has not announced any new restrictions but is closely monitoring the situation.
As the country heads into the monsoon season, health officials have emphasized the importance of following basic precautions such as hand hygiene, mask-wearing in crowded places, and timely vaccination.
