New Delhi: India has reported a minor decline in its active Covid-19 caseload, which now stands at 7,264, down from 7,383 the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
While the fall in cases offers a sense of relief, the country also recorded 11 Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, most of which were among elderly individuals with existing poor health conditions.
Kerala continues to be the most affected state, with 1,920 active cases, followed by Gujarat (1,433), Delhi (649), and Maharashtra (540). Kerala also registered the largest single-day drop, with 87 fewer cases. Maharashtra saw a decline of 38, whereas Karnataka reported a slight uptick with 18 new infections, raising its active caseload to 591.
The 11 fatalities included seven deaths from Kerala, and one each from Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Among the deceased was a 33-year-old male from Kerala with multiple organ failure and comorbid conditions.
The remaining deaths were predominantly in elderly patients with serious underlying health issues such as cancer, cirrhosis, chronic lung disease, and sepsis.
Health experts have recommend a focused approach targeting vulnerable groups, including the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic illnesses. The widespread hybrid immunity — resulting from high vaccine coverage and past infections — is believed to be providing significant protection to the general population, they said.
Despite the moderate increase in infections, there is no indication that the new variants, including LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1, are causing more severe disease. Experts have also pointed out that the actual number of infections may be underreported due to low testing rates, as many symptomatic individuals are not undergoing Covid-19 testing.
The Indian Medical Association and healthcare professionals have reiterated the need to adhere to COVID-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded areas, maintaining hand hygiene, and avoiding unnecessary exposure in public places. These simple preventive measures remain crucial in limiting the spread of the virus, especially among high-risk population.
As of May 19, the country reported only 257 active cases, with nearly all cases being mild and not requiring hospitalisation.
