Covid-19: India is also seeing a slight movement in Asia, especially in Kovid-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong, amid a sudden surge. According to the Ministry of Health, till May 19, 2025 there are 257 active covid cases in the country, which are all light and no one needed to hospitalize.
The Ministry on Monday held a high-level review meeting with experts from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), ICMR, Disaster Management Cell and Central Hospitals, stating the situation under control. But India is cautious after 28% of cases in Singapore and 31 serious cases in Hong Kong.
India’s preparations, IDSP and ICMR monitoring
The Ministry of Health said that India’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) and ICMR’s genome sequencing system are keeping a close watch on Kovid and other respiratory diseases. Kerala (69 cases), Maharashtra (44), and Tamil Nadu (34) have the highest number of cases, but all mild.
The Ministry has asked hospitals to increase influenza -like symptoms (ILI) and serious respiratory infection (SARI) monitoring. Regular review of the availability of medicines, beds, and oxygen is being done.
JN.1 Danger of variants, old vaccine effective
According to Dr. Mohsin Wali (Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi), JN.1 sub -rients LF.7 and NB.1.8 are spreading in Singapore and Hong Kong, which are part of Omikron. These variants are not very different from the earlier variants seen in India, and there was no major change in seriousness. Symptoms are the same-dry cough, fever, headache, taste of taste.
Old Kovid vaccine and Gemcovac-19 (made for Omikron) are effective against them. Buster dose is being advised to elderly and weak immunity with high-risk groups.
Why boom in Singapore-Hong Kong?
Singapore recorded 14,200 cases and 30% more hospitalization in Singapore till 27 April-3 May. Hong Kong increased 6.21% to 13.66% Test positivity rate, and 81 serious cases and 30 deaths (mostly the elderly) till May 30.
The 33,030 cases (11–17 May) were doubled after the Songcran Festival in Thailand and Test positivity in March-May in China. Experts say that the immunity from the vaccine and the big functions are the reason, not a new dangerous variant.