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India’s active Covid-19 caseload reached 5,364 on Friday, with 764 new cases and four deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, according to data from the Union Health Ministry. Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi emerged as key hotspots. The rising trend has led the Centre to conduct hospital preparedness drills and instruct all states to bolster oxygen supplies, ventilators, isolation wards, and stockpiles of essential medicines.
Most new cases remain mild and are being managed at home. However, the emergence of the NB.1.8.1 variant — now under global monitoring — has raised questions about increased transmissibility.
Kerala leads surge, Maharashtra and Delhi follow
Kerala continues to report the highest number of cases. In the last 24 hours alone, it registered 192 infections. Gujarat followed with 107, while West Bengal and Delhi reported 58 and 30 new cases respectively.Maharashtra added 114 cases on Friday, with the state’s total since January rising to 1,276. One new death was confirmed, bringing the toll to 18. Most of the deceased had comorbidities, according to the state health department.
In Delhi, the active caseload rose to 592. No new deaths were recorded since Thursday, with seven fatalities since January 1. The capital is yet to see a sharp spike but remains on alert.
Localised spikes in Haryana, Odisha, and Uttarakhand
Haryana logged 31 new infections on Friday. Gurugram and Faridabad contributed 20 cases between them. The state has 87 active cases and a total of 151 cumulative infections. “Timely action and strict adherence to preventive measures can significantly curb the spread of the virus,” said Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, urging the public to stay alert but calm.Odisha reported seven new cases, raising the total to 30 this wave. Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra noted that “on average, five to seven new cases are being detected every day.” He added, “We all have to remain cautious.”
The state is considering fresh guidelines in schools when they reopen on 20 June. “Students with Covid-like symptoms would be asked to wear masks in schools, while those with more acute signs of the infection would be asked to stay home,” said School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond.
In Uttarakhand, seven people tested positive in Dehradun, bringing the district’s count to 29. The health department is tracing contacts of the newly infected.
Technical reviews and national mock drills
The Union Health Ministry, led by DGHS Dr Sunita Sharma, held back-to-back technical review meetings on 2 and 3 June. Attendees included representatives from the NCDC, ICMR, IDSP, EMR Cell, and officials from all states and union territories. The meetings focused on preparedness and assessing the national response.On 5 June, hospitals across India carried out a mock drill. The focus was on checking oxygen systems, including PSA plants and liquid medical oxygen tanks.
Variant NB.1.8.1 drives global spread
The current wave in India is being primarily fuelled by the NB.1.8.1 variant, a recombinant strain of Omicron. According to the World Health Organization, it was declared a “variant under monitoring” on 23 May 2025. By April, it made up over 10% of sequences globally — up from 2.5% a month earlier.Virologist Lara Herrero wrote in The Conversation that NB.1.8.1 has shown a stronger ability to bind to human cell receptors. “It may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains,” she noted.
“It is more transmissible,” confirmed Prof. Subhash Verma, from the University of Nevada’s School of Medicine, in an interview with CBS News.
Symptoms and vaccine efficacy
Common symptoms of the NB.1.8.1 variant include sore throat, cough, fever, muscle pain, and nasal congestion. Some patients have also reported nausea and diarrhoea.Experts stress that vaccines remain crucial. While NB.1.8.1 may partially evade immunity, current vaccines still help reduce severe illness and hospitalisation.
“There is no evidence that the new strain is more severe or deadly,” said public health officials. However, they advise testing, masking, and distancing if symptoms occur.
Research breakthrough at IIT Guwahati
Amid the ongoing surge, researchers at IIT Guwahati have introduced a new method to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2. It’s based on sedimentation — the settling of a clay-virus-electrolyte mix. This cost-effective approach was developed by Prof. T V Bharat and Prof. Sachin Kumar, alongside scholars Dr Himanshu Yadav and Deepa Mehta.Their findings, now published in Applied Clay Science, may provide a useful tool for rapid testing in areas with limited access to conventional diagnostic methods.
So far, most Covid-19 cases reported this year are mild. Of the 55 deaths since January 1, nearly all occurred among those with pre-existing health conditions.
State governments are issuing region-specific advisories. In Odisha, for instance, health services director Amarendra Nath Mohanty advised people with symptoms to avoid visiting Puri during the upcoming Rath Yatra. “Such persons can witness the festival through television and other media platforms,” he said.
In West Bengal, where 58 new cases and 91 recoveries were recorded, officials said, “The situation is under control, and there is nothing to worry about. However, we would advise the people to follow the Covid-19 health-related protocols and wear masks.”
The resurgence of Covid-19 in India reflects a broader global trend. New strains continue to evolve, and while many remain mild, health systems must stay ready. The coming weeks may offer clarity on the behaviour of NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 variants.
Until then, authorities are focused on readiness. Clinicians urge the public to remain aware but not anxious. Testing, vaccines, and responsible public behaviour remain the best defence.
