Delhi has reported a recent increase in Covid-19 cases, prompting health officials to take precautionary measures by advising hospitals to be prepared with necessary resources such as beds, oxygen, medicines, and vaccines. With 23 new cases recorded until Thursday, the city’s health department is closely monitoring the situation to understand the source and manage any potential challenges. The surge comes amid similar mild spikes across several Indian states and parts of Asia, linked to new subvariants of the Omicron strain.

Current Situation and Government Response

Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh confirmed that 23 Covid cases have been reported recently, with all patients currently stable. The government is investigating whether the infections are among local residents or travelers. To handle the situation, officials have held meetings with hospital authorities and set up a monitoring team of eight senior officers. This team will track developments and coordinate response efforts as needed.

The rise in cases is not limited to Delhi; states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, Kerala, Gujarat, and Karnataka have also reported new infections. According to Union Health Ministry data, 257 Covid cases were recorded across India till Wednesday. Fortunately, these cases remain mostly mild, with no unusual severity or mortality observed so far.

Impact of New Variants and Global Context

The surge in Covid infections is linked to new descendants of the Omicron variant, particularly the JN.1 variant and its sub-lineages LF.7 and NB.1.8, which are spreading rapidly in Asia. The World Health Organization notes that the JN.1 variant carries around 30 mutations, with LF.7 and NB.1.8 being the most common among recent cases. Similar increases have been reported in Asian commercial hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong, although health experts emphasize that the current variants do not appear to be more transmissible or cause more severe illness than earlier strains.

In response to this trend, India’s health ministry continues to monitor the situation vigilantly, advising hospitals to watch for influenza-like illnesses and severe respiratory infections closely. Authorities stress that most current cases do not require hospitalization, but preparedness is essential.

Delhi’s Hospital Advisory

To ensure readiness, Delhi’s health department has issued an advisory to all government and private hospitals. Medical facilities have been instructed to check and maintain critical equipment such as ventilators, Bi-Pap machines, and oxygen concentrators. Hospitals are also required to send all positive Covid samples to Lok Nayak Hospital for genome sequencing. This step aims to detect any new variants early and help in timely public health responses. Additionally, daily reporting of relevant data to the state health management portal has been mandated to maintain transparency and facilitate effective monitoring.

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