Our Bureau
New Delhi
Health authorities are closely tracking a recent uptick in Covid-19 cases across several Indian states, with Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad reporting the most notable increases. As of May 19, 2025, India has 257 active Covid-19 cases nationwide, a modest figure compared to previous waves, but one that has prompted renewed vigilance amid similar resurgences in parts of Asia, including Hong Kong and Singapore.
Mumbai has emerged as the current hotspot, recording 95 new Covid-19 cases in May alone. This accounts for nearly 90% of Maharashtra’s total 106 cases since January, according to the state health department. At least 16 patients are currently hospitalised, with most transferred from KEM Hospital to Seven Hills Hospital to curb further transmission. Authorities have ramped up surveillance, testing all patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) for Covid-19.
In Pune, municipal officials have reserved 50 beds at Naidu Hospital as a precaution, despite having no active Covid-19 patients in public hospitals. “We had only one patient in May — an 87-year-old from Manjari — who has since fully recovered,” said Dr Nina Borade, health chief at Pune Municipal Corporation.
Elsewhere, Tamil Nadu has reported 12 new cases in Puducherry, while Chennai is witnessing a shift as fevers previously attributed to influenza are now increasingly linked to Covid-19. In some hospitals, critical procedures have been postponed due to infection risks. Karnataka has confirmed 16 active cases, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat reported seven new infections in a single day — a significant rise for a city that averaged just one case per month over the past year. All Ahmedabad patients are in home isolation, with their samples sent for genomic sequencing.
Despite the increase, most new cases are mild, with no deaths or ICU admissions linked to the current rise. Health experts urge vulnerable groups — including the elderly, pregnant women, and those with underlying conditions — to resume basic precautions such as mask-wearing and frequent hand hygiene. The World Health Organization declared the pandemic over in May 2023, but experts warn the virus remains endemic, with periodic surges expected.
