India sees mild Covid surge; states issue advisories, new subvariants under close watch

India is witnessing a slight resurgence in COVID-19 cases, prompting states like Delhi, Haryana, and Karnataka to reactivate precautionary measures. Officials have urged citizens not to panic, stressing that the current wave remains mild with no hospitalisations and limited symptoms.

Delhi reported 23 new cases, while Haryana logged four infections, two each in Gurugram and Faridabad. Karnataka, which has reported 35 cases so far in 2025, confirmed a minor rise in the last two weeks, including a nine-month-old baby testing positive in Bengaluru. All patients are either home-isolated or have shown mild symptoms, and no recent travel history has been found.

Health ministers from Haryana and Karnataka assured the public that the infrastructure is in place, and that earlier vaccinations are helping reduce symptom severity. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and immunocompromised, have been advised to avoid crowded places and get tested in case of respiratory symptoms.

AIIMS Rishikesh also reported three cases, including a hospital staffer and a pilgrim from Gujarat. Authorities emphasized that the currently circulating strain is not aggressive, but caution is still advised for those with comorbidities.

India’s health surveillance network is tracking newer subvariants closely. So far, one case of the NB.1.8.1 variant has been identified in Tamil Nadu and four LF.7 cases in Gujarat. Both are classified as “Variants Under Monitoring” by the WHO. Despite this, the dominant strain remains JN.1, accounting for over half of all current samples.