India sees nearly 4,000 active Covid-19 cases amid new variant surge, health ministry issues testing guidelines
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India is currently witnessing a gradual resurgence in Covid-19 cases, with a total of 3,961 active infections reported across the country.
In the past 24 hours alone, 203 new cases were registered, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Kerala leads with the highest number of active cases (1,435), followed by Maharashtra (506) and Delhi (483).
Tragically, four deaths have been reported during this recent wave.
The uptick in cases is largely driven by the emergence of a new, highly contagious variant called NB.1.8.1, a descendant of the JN.1 variant from the Omicron family. Another fast-spreading strain, LF.7, is also in circulation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NB.1.8.1 has been linked to a significant increase in hospitalisations in China and has also been detected in the United States.
While the symptoms of NB.1.8.1 are typically mild to moderate, the elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems remain vulnerable to more severe illness. Health experts warn that although this variant may not cause serious complications for most people, it spreads faster than earlier strains.
Who should get tested?
As Covid-19 and flu cases both rise, the importance of timely testing becomes even more crucial. The Health Ministry has released updated guidelines to help the public determine when a Covid-19 test is necessary.
"All individuals need not be tested, because disease is primarily reported in individuals with travel history to the affected countries or close contacts of positive cases," mentions the health ministry.
According to the guidelines, testing is recommended for symptomatic individuals in the following categories:
- Those with a history of international travel within the past 14 days
- Individuals who have been in close contact with confirmed Covid-19 cases
- Healthcare professionals
- Hospitalised patients showing symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI), influenza-like illness (ILI), or severe pneumonia
Additionally, the ministry advises that asymptomatic individuals who are direct and high-risk contacts of confirmed cases should undergo testing once between the fifth and fourteenth day after exposure. This includes people living in the same household as an infected person and healthcare workers who had contact without proper protective measures, as outlined by WHO.