NEW DELHI, May 25— Several Indian states are witnessing a gradual rise in COVID-19 cases, but the Union Health Ministry has maintained that most infections remain mild and do not require hospitalization.
As of May 19, India has 257 active cases, with states like Kerala (+69 cases), Maharashtra (+44), and Tamil Nadu (+34) leading the recent surge, according to official data.
Karnataka (+8), Gujarat (+6), and Delhi (+3) have also reported slight increases. Despite this, health experts and officials have emphasized there is no reason to panic.
“The situation is under control. Present cases are sporadic and being managed easily,” said Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
The Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava held a review meeting on Saturday to assess preparedness in affected states. States like Karnataka and Delhi have issued public advisories asking citizens to follow precautions but remain calm.
The ministry has urged people to wear masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, and avoid large gatherings, even though COVID-19 is now treated as a routine viral infection.
Authorities are maintaining surveillance through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), ready to ramp up measures if the situation escalates.
