Active Covid cases in India cross 1,000: Should you get booster vaccine, wear masks?

Covid-19 cases have increased across the country, and so have people’s concerns.

Do we need booster shots? Is it time to bring back masks?

As of Monday, May 26, India has 1,010 active Covid cases. Kerala tops the list with 430 active cases, according to data shared by the Union government.

Maharashtra is next with 210 active cases, including 154 reported in the past week. Delhi has reported 99 new cases, taking its total to 104.

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Should you start wearing a mask again?

In this explainer, we look at some of the key questions around the recent surge in Covid cases - whether a booster shot is needed, if masks should be used again, which states are seeing a rise in infections, and whether there is a reason to worry.

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Let’s get you answers to these questions and more.

Covid-19 cases in India: Should you get a booster dose and wear masks?

It is worth noting that two new coronavirus subvariants, NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, are being linked to the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in China and parts of Asia, as per reports.

The World Health Organization (Who) has placed both variants under its “Variants Under Monitoring” list. This means they are being closely watched but have not yet been categorised as “Variants of Concern” or “Variants of Interest”.

The Health Ministry has confirmed that both variants have been found in the country. They are offshoots of the JN.1 variant.

With cases climbing, health officials stress the need to stick to basic precautions, especially to protect vulnerable groups.

While symptoms remain mild to moderate in most cases, older adults and those with weak immune systems are still at higher risk of severe illness.

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This has raised fresh concerns around booster vaccines and other protective measures. What do experts think? Has the government issued any new guidance?

At the moment, there are no fresh national instructions about booster doses. Health officials maintain that there is no need to panic, but suggest people wear masks, cover their mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing, and practise social distancing, especially around those more at risk.

Dr Sharad Joshi, Director and Head of Pulmonology and Paediatric Pulmonology, Max Healthcare, told NDTV, “Presently there is no recommendation for a vaccine booster dose. We must wait for government guidelines and proper research”.

On safety measures, he told the media outlet that it is important to “wear a mask, cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and maintain social distancing”. He also advised mask use in crowded or closed spaces and suggested regular handwashing.

Dr Piyush Ranjan, a professor at AIIMS, told News18 that booster doses are not urgently needed for everyone. However, they remain important for older adults and those with underlying conditions.

“Given the mild nature of current cases and the absence of a significant surge in India, booster doses for the general population are not urgently necessary but should be encouraged for those who have not received a booster in over a year, as waning immunity is a key driver of current surges,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Narayana Subramaniam, Senior Consultant and Director of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, and Director of Clinical Innovation at Sparsh Hospitals, told South First that annual Covid-19 vaccines are advised for those at risk of serious illness, especially those over 65.

Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman of the National IMA COVID Task Force in Kerala, told the publication that another vaccine dose “is unlikely to offer long-term protection for most people. By the time a new variant appears, the protection from that dose may no longer be effective”.

State-wise breakdown of Covid cases in India: Should you be worried?

As of Monday, May 26, India has 1,010 active Covid cases. Kerala leads with 430 active cases, according to data from the Union government.

Maharashtra follows with 210 active cases, including 154 reported in the past week. Delhi has added 99 new cases, bringing its total to 104.

Other states reporting infections include Gujarat (83), Tamil Nadu (69), Karnataka (47), Uttar Pradesh (15), Rajasthan (13), West Bengal (12), Haryana (9), Puducherry (9), Andhra Pradesh (4), Madhya Pradesh (2), Telangana (1), Chhattisgarh (1), and Goa (1).

On Friday, the Delhi government issued an advisory asking hospitals to be ready, ensuring beds, oxygen supplies, essential medicines, and working equipment like ventilators and BiPAP machines are available.

However, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said there is no need to panic about Covid-19 cases and reassured that hospitals are prepared if cases rise.

“We have details of the Covid-19 cases. Our hospitals have all the facilities. We have also issued an advisory,” she said. “We have analysed the scenario and there is no panic situation.”

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday that the current virus strain is not “serious” but urged caution.

“We should be prepared for everything. There should be no problem for oxygen, ventilators, testing kits and wards. Their availability must be ensured,” he said.

Health officials have said that most current cases are mild and are being treated at home. For now, experts say there is no cause for panic, but staying alert, especially to protect vulnerable groups, is important.