Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, & more: Where are Covid cases rising in India?

A quiet uptick in Covid-19 cases is starting to grab the attention of health officials across India. Though the numbers remain low, a fresh wave of infections in parts of Asia has prompted a response from authorities.

Countries like Hong Kong and Singapore are reporting a resurgence, with Singapore attributing the rise to strains linked to the JN.1 variant.

India, too, has seen a gradual increase in fresh cases in recent weeks. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the country currently has 257 active cases.

Cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad have reported a small but steady surge, prompting local officials to step up surveillance and implement precautionary measures, as per a Times of India report.

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So, what steps are states taking to stay ahead? How many cases are being reported locally? And what are the authorities saying about the current situation?

Here’s a quick look at what’s unfolding.

Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, Mumbai has become a focal point of concern, recording 95 new Covid-19 cases in May alone, a sharp rise considering the state has reported a total of 106 cases since January, according to the state health department.

Currently, 52 patients are undergoing treatment for mild symptoms, while 16 patients are hospitalised.

Many of them have been shifted from the city’s KEM Hospital to Seven Hills Hospital in an effort to limit the risk of further transmission, Times of India reported. Authorities have ramped up testing protocols, screening all patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) for Covid-19.

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The state has also confirmed two Covid-19-related deaths since the beginning of the year. Both fatalities were reported in Mumbai and involved individuals with existing health complications, the health department said in an official release on Tuesday.

One was a 59-year-old cancer patient, and another was a 14-year-old girl suffering from kidney disease.

In Pune, the situation remains under control for now. There are no active Covid-19 cases in government-run hospitals. However, the Pune Municipal Corporation is not taking any chances — 50 beds have been reserved at Naidu Hospital as a precautionary measure.

“We had only one patient in May — an 87-year-old from Manjari — who has since fully recovered,” said Dr Nina Borade, health chief at PMC, as quoted by TOI. She also mentioned that while testing is currently not being conducted in civic hospitals, they are awaiting updated guidelines from the Centre to decide the next steps.

Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is also witnessing a rise, with 12 new cases reported in Puducherry. In Chennai, doctors say that cases initially attributed to seasonal flu are increasingly turning out to be Covid-19.

“Two weeks ago, 60 per cent of our positive samples were influenza A or B. Now, it’s Covid-19,” said Dr Subramaniam Swaminathan, infectious diseases expert at Gleneagles Healthcity, speaking to TOI.

Some hospitals have delayed elective surgeries, including organ transplants and heart procedures, to minimise the risk of infection during the current wave.

Public Health Director Dr T S Selvavinayagam said while there is no cause for alarm, people should remain cautious in crowded spaces. “Covid-19 never truly disappeared — it has been circulating at low levels with seasonal peaks,” he was quoted by TOI.

“As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, our medical infrastructure is prepared to handle any kind of situation. But we are nowhere near any such situations. If there is a need for people to follow some rules, we will notify them. Our surveillance mechanism is very robust and people are advised to stay calm,” he added.

Covid-19 cases in Karnataka

Karnataka has reported a slight rise in Covid-19 cases, with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirming 16 active infections currently in the state.

According to state-wise data published by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, eight of these cases were reported since May 12. However, a Deccan Herald report, citing a health department source, suggests the total number of cases in May is closer to 30.

So far this year, over 40 positive cases have been recorded in Karnataka, following the testing of nearly 3,500 people.

Health officials say all cases have been mild. None of the patients required hospitalisation or developed any serious complications, and the state health department has assured there is no immediate cause for concern.

Covid-19 cases in Gujarat

In Gujarat, Ahmedabad has seen an unexpected spike in daily Covid-19 cases after months of minimal activity.

Data released by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation shows seven new infections were reported in a single day — a notable jump for a city that had been averaging just one case per month over the past year.

Among the symptomatic individuals are a 15-year-old boy from Vatva and Bhopal, and a 2-year-old girl from Gota. The remaining cases include a 28-year-old man from Narol, a 72-year-old woman from Danilimda, a 30-year-old man from Baharampura, and a 54-year-old man from Navrangpura.

Health officials confirmed that all patients are in home isolation, and their samples have been sent for genomic sequencing to identify any potential variant of concern.

Do we need to worry?

In short — not at the moment.

The Union Health Ministry has assured that the Covid-19 situation in India remains “under control.” The statement followed a review meeting chaired by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) on Monday, May 19.

Government officials say the current wave of infections appears to be mild in nature. Preliminary data suggests that the majority of active Covid-19 cases are “not associated with unusual severity or mortality.”

“Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalisation required,” a senior official told PTI, adding that the number of infections remains very low relative to India’s large population.

“The Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and proactive in monitoring the situation closely, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard public health,” sources further told the news agency.

With input from agencies