“Whenever cases increase, we look at three things. It’s dependent on three factors with the first being how transmissible it is, conversely how fast the cases are increasing. Previously we saw Covid cases double in two days, but this time it is not that cases are increasing rapidly. Secondly, are the new variants evading our previous immunity? When new variants come, they evade immunity — be it natural or from the vaccine. But there’s nothing to worry about at the moment,” Dr Rajiv Behl,Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
New Delhi: Amid an uptick in Covid cases in some parts of the country, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr Rajiv Behl Monday said the severity of infections as of now is generally mild and there was no cause for worry.
Speaking about new Covid variants being traced, he said genome sequencing of samples in the west and south have shown that the new variants are not severe and are Omicron sub-variants. These are LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB. 1.8.1.
The first three are more prevalent, Dr Bhel said. “Samples from other places are being sequenced and we will know in a day or two if there are more variants.”
The ICMR DG said there has been an uptick in cases –first from the south, then west and now from northern India. All these cases are being monitored through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
Currently, there are over 1,000 cases of Covid-19 infections reported in the country including 752 new cases recently confirmed. According to government data, Kerala has the highest number of active cases at 430. Other states with notable case counts include Maharashtra (209), Delhi (104), Gujarat (83), Karnataka (47), Uttar Pradesh (15), and West Bengal (12).
Maharashtra has already reported at least four Covid-related deaths, followed by Kerala (2), and Karnataka (1).
Besides that, ICMR’s nationwide respiratory virus sentinel surveillance network is keeping a watch on emerging infections and pathogens, he said.
“Whenever cases increase, we look at three things. It’s dependent on three factors with the first being how transmissible it is, conversely how fast the cases are increasing. Previously we saw Covid cases double in two days, but this time it is not that cases are increasing rapidly.
“Secondly, are the new variants evading our previous immunity? When new variants come, they evade immunity — be it natural or from the vaccine. But there’s nothing to worry about at the moment,” Dr Bhel said.
He also said that the third factor is the percentage of severe cases in all Covid instances.
“Are we getting a very severe disease without comorbidities? As of now, the severity is generally low. There’s nothing to worry about. We should be vigilant and we should always be prepared,” the ICMR DG asserted.
Dr Bhel also informed reporters that the Union Health secretary chaired a meeting on Sunday that was also attended by the director general of health services and himself.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation. We should be vigilant at this moment, but there is no cause to worry. The general public should be vigilant. There is no need to take any such action as of now,” he said.
The officer added that the WHO database has been showing that the new variants were not causing severe disease.
“People do not need to take any immediate action. They should follow normal precautions. So, there is nothing special to do right now.”
Asked about the need for a booster dose, he said there is no need for vaccination as of now. “India has the capability to make vaccines and if need be, we can make any vaccine in no time.”
As of May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring, not as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest. But these are the variants that are reportedly driving the rise in Covid cases in China and parts of Asia.
Meanwhile,Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Saturday reviewed the matter regarding Covid-19 cases reported across multiple states, mainly from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, etc, according to official sources.
It is observed that most of these cases are mild and under home care.
However, the Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and, through its multiple agencies, is proactively monitoring the situation closely, the official sources said.
According to the Union Health Ministry, as of May 19, India has 257 active Covid-19 cases, most of which are mild and require no hospitalisation. The country continues to monitor respiratory illnesses through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the ICMR.
According to health experts, there is no surge in Covid cases, only sporadic cases reported.
Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, said on Friday, “At the moment, the situation is under control. There are, at most, sporadic cases, which are also rare. Even the present cases are being managed very easily.”
“They are not being hospitalised. This is what we were expecting: that when Covid happened, it would remain a seasonal flu which could be treated very easily. The situation is not one of panic,” he further said
The Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and proactive in monitoring the situation closely, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard public health. While Covid-19 is now considered another type of viral infection, basic precautions such as hand hygiene, masks in crowded areas and avoiding unnecessary gatherings are still encouraged.