New Delhi: India has reported a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, with the total number reaching 2,710 as of May 30, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The surge marks a significant increase from 1,010 cases recorded just four days earlier. Kerala has recorded the highest number of infections at 1,147, followed by Maharashtra with 424 and Delhi with 294 cases. Gujarat has reported 223 cases, while Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have registered 148 each.
West Bengal has reported 116 cases, and other states such as Rajasthan (51), Uttar Pradesh (42), and Puducherry (25) have also seen a smaller uptick. The numbers remain low in Haryana (20), Andhra Pradesh (16), Madhya Pradesh (10), Goa (7), and Odisha, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir with four cases each. Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh have reported three cases each, while Assam and Mizoram have two cases each. No active cases have been reported so far in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh. Bihar’s updated figures are awaited.
At least seven Covid-related deaths have been reported across India in recent weeks. Among them, one person each in Maharashtra and Delhi was also suffering from other serious health conditions. Except for a case in Punjab, all fatalities involved senior citizens.
Officials have said that most of the infections are mild and manageable. ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl noted that while there is no need for panic, people should remain vigilant, especially those with compromised immunity or underlying health issues.
Current genome sequencing data shows the JN.1 variant continues to dominate, making up 53% of the cases, followed by BA.2 and other Omicron sublineages. A few recent cases have involved the more transmissible NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 variants, which are being monitored globally but have not yet been classified as variants of concern.
Union Minister of State for Health and AYUSH (Independent Charge) Prataprao Jadhav has assured that the central government is fully prepared to manage the evolving situation and is actively coordinating with health officials across all states.
