COVID-19 cases are rising again across India and the number of active cases has crossed the 4,000-mark. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s latest data, the active COVID-19 cases have reached 4,026. The spike is steady, with Kerala leading the case count, followed by Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal. “Yes, India is seeing a gradual rise in COVID-19 cases,” said Dr. Diksha Goyal, Consultant – Internal Medicine at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram. “But overall, the number of deaths has been low, which is a good sign,” she added.

What’s behind the new spike?

Doctors say the recent surge is due to new Omicron sub-variants, including LF7, XFG, NB.1.8.1 and especially JN.1, which is currently being monitored closely by experts. The JN.1 variant is currently spreading fast across the country. “JN.1 spreads quickly and may be harder to catch early because of shorter incubation periods,” said Dr. Laxman Jessani, Consultant – Infectious Diseases at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. “While it’s mild for most, people with weak immunity could face serious illness,” he further added.