New Delhi: Amid a global uptick in Covid-19 cases, the Delhi government on Friday issued a health advisory, directing hospitals across the national capital to gear up for any potential surge in infections. The advisory stressed the importance of ensuring the availability of essential medical resources, including beds, oxygen supplies, medicines and vaccines.
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh announced that 23 new Covid cases were recorded in the city. Authorities are currently reviewing the cases to establish whether the infected individuals are local residents or recent travellers. The government’s move comes in light of rising Covid-19 cases in several countries, including China, Thailand and Singapore. As a precautionary step, all healthcare institutions in Delhi have been instructed to send every Covid-positive sample for genome sequencing to Lok Nayak Hospital.
Hospitals told to prepare
“The hospitals must ensure preparedness in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, other drugs and vaccines. All equipment such as ventilators, Bi-PAP, oxygen concentrators and PSA must be in functional condition,” the advisory said. That apart, the health department has mandated that hospitals report all relevant data daily on the Delhi state health data management portal.
India has seen a modest increase in Covid-19 infections, with mostly mild cases being reported from various states. According to the Union Health Ministry, a total of 257 new cases were recorded nationwide on Wednesday.
Maharashtra registered 56 cases, while Tamil Nadu reported the highest number with 66. Other states and union territories that detected new infections include Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Sikkim, Haryana, Karnataka, and West Bengal.
In Kerala, Health Minister Veena George said that 273 cases were documented in May. The district of Kottayam recorded the highest number with 82 cases, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (73), Ernakulam (49), Pathanamthitta (30), and Thrissur (26).
Haryana added four new mild cases on Friday. The individuals have been placed under home isolation and are being monitored by health officials. State Health Minister Arti Singh Rao reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm, noting that the government is keeping a close watch on the situation.
Review meeting
On May 19, a review meeting was conducted by experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, the Emergency Medical Relief Division, the Disaster Management Cell, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and central government hospitals. The meeting, chaired by the Director General of Health Services, assessed the recent rise in cases.
“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 hospitalisation required,” reported PTI, quoting an official.
