Shaun
The fresh spike in Covid-19 infections continues in India as the number of active cases in the country stood at 7,121 on Thursday morning, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Six new Covid-related deaths, three in Kerala, two in Karnataka and one in Maharashtra were also reported in the last 24-hours, taking the total number of deaths this year to 74. In a welcome respite, over 8,000 people have recovered from the infection so far this year.
Worst-hit states amid rise in Covid cases: While a slight uptick in active cases was recorded in almost all states, Kerala continues to report the highest number of Covid-19 cases in 2025, with the active caseload standing at 2,223 on Thursday morning. According to Centre’s Covid-19 dashboard, states like Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi and Maharashtra have also reported fairly high number of active cases this year.
Surge driven by Omicron variant: The recent surge in Covid-19 cases across the country is driven by new Omicron sub-variants such as JN.1, NB.1.8.1, LF.7, and XFC, with increased transmissibility but milder symptoms, as compared to other variants. The WHO currently classifies these as “Variants Under Monitoring” — not of concern yet, but requiring caution. Meanwhile, SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, has not disappeared, but it no longer behaves like an unpredictable emergency — rather, it has become part of a recurring cycle of illnesses, similar to the flu.
