Health authorities in India are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation following a sudden surge in Hong Kong and Singapore. A review meeting was also held with top officials on Monday to take stock of the situation — with the union health ministry updating its national case tally for the first time since May 12.
“The meeting concluded that the current COVID-19 situation in India remains under control. As of May 19, 2025, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India stands at 257, a very low figure considering the country’s large population. Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalization required,” an official source told PTI.
Hospitals have also been asked to monitor influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infection cases in light of the current situation. Sources also told the publication that the Health Ministry ‘remained vigilant and proactive in monitoring the situation closely, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard public health’.
Countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong have reported a steady uptick in cases over the past few days weeks — with health authorities attributing it to waning population level immunity and a reduced number of elderly people getting their booster shots.
According to Singapore health authorities, LF.7 and NB.1.8 — both descendants of JN.1 variant that is used in new COVID-19 vaccines — were circulating in the country. These newer vaccines are unavailable in India. Meanwhile Hong Kong has seen in increase the Sars-CoV-2 viral load increase in sewage samples. It has also noted an increase in respiratory samples testing positive for Covid-19, increasing to 13.66%in the week ending on May 10 as compared to 6.21% four weeks ago. The city has recorded 81 severe cases, with 30 deaths — almost all of which were in elderly people with underlying health conditions.
