India Sees Rise in COVID-19 Cases; Experts Urge Caution, Not Panic

India’s active COVID-19 cases have increased to 7,154, with 33 new cases and three deaths reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health. Two deaths were from Maharashtra and one from Madhya Pradesh. All three victims were elderly and had existing health problems. The recent rise in cases has been linked to new variants like LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1.

Among the states, Kerala continues to have the highest number of active cases at 2,165, followed by Gujarat with 1,281 cases. Delhi has seen a slight decrease, with 731 active cases. Though the numbers are still low compared to past waves, the steady increase has prompted health officials to stay alert.

Health experts have advised against starting a mass booster vaccine drive. Instead, they recommend focusing on protecting high-risk groups, such as the elderly, people with chronic conditions, and those with weak immune systems. Most of the population already has hybrid immunity, from both past infections and vaccines, which offers strong protection for now.