The rise in COVID-19 cases in India coincides with a sharp spike in cases in several Southeast Asian countries, especially Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Thailand.According to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), India has detected one case of the emerging variant NB.1.8.1 and four cases of the LF.7 type. One NB.1.8.1 case was identified in April in Tamil Nadu, while four LF.7 cases were found in Gujarat in May.Speaking about the new variants, Dr Behl said genome sequencing of samples from western and southern India shows these new variants are not severe and belong to Omicron sub-lineages including LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB.1.8.1. The first three variants are more prevalent, he added.“Samples from other regions are being sequenced and we will know within a day or two if there are more variants.”Of the more than 1,000 active cases, Kerala reported 430 cases during the week of May 19-26, compared to 95 cases till May 19. The southern state also reported two deaths.Maharashtra reported 209 active cases and four deaths, a sharp rise from 56 cases as of May 19.Delhi has also seen an increase in cases.The capital recorded 105 active cases, compared to just five on May 19, according to Krishna Prasad, a health data analyst based in Kerala. “Delhi has reported a sharp rise in cases within a week. From May 19-26, Delhi reported 99 active cases. Till May 19, there were only five cases,” he said.Karnataka is also experiencing a rise in cases, with 47 active cases as of May 26, up from 13 till May 19. One death was reported.Other states reporting COVID-19 cases include Gujarat (83 compared to seven till May 19), Uttar Pradesh (15 compared to zero), West Bengal (12 compared to one), and Tamil Nadu (69 compared to 66).The ICMR DG said that when cases increase, three factors are considered. “It depends on how transmissible the virus is—how quickly cases rise. Previously, we saw cases double in two days, but currently, the rise is slower.“Secondly, we assess whether new variants are evading prior immunity—whether natural or vaccine-induced. But there’s nothing to worry about at the moment,” Dr Behl said.He added that the third factor is the percentage of severe cases among all COVID instances.While 93 cases were reported during the week of May 5-12, this number rose to 164 during May 13-19.
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