Jaipur: Jaipur has reported two recent deaths of Covid-positive patients, with both cases now under investigation to determine the virus variant. The first case involves an unidentified man who was brought to SMS Hospital on May 9 in a semi-conscious state from the railway station area.
He passed away on May 25. A Covid test conducted before the postmortem confirmed he was positive. His samples have been sent to SMS Medical College and a Pune lab for genome sequencing. In the second case, a 26-year-old man, who was undergoing treatment for tuberculosis at a private hospital, also tested positive for Covid-19. He, too, passed away, and his samples have been sent for sequencing to detect any variant.
Rise in Covid-19 cases
India is witnessing a fresh rise in Covid-19 cases, with active infections crossing 1,000 as of May 26—a sharp increase from just 257 cases recorded on May 19. Kerala remains the most affected state, reporting 430 active cases, followed by Maharashtra with 209 cases. In Delhi, the number has surged dramatically from 5 on May 19 to 104. Karnataka has 47 active cases, while other states such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal are also reporting new infections.
Health authorities have identified two new variants of the virus in the country. The NB.1.8.1 variant was detected in Tamil Nadu in April 2025, and four cases of the LF.7 variant were found in Gujarat in May 2025. Both variants are currently listed as Variants Under Monitoring and are not yet linked to severe illness or high fatality.
The symptoms associated with these new variants are similar to the common flu, including fever, cough, sore throat, and difficulty in breathing. Most cases so far have been mild and manageable at home. However, experts have warned that immunity from earlier vaccinations may be declining over time and have advised people to remain vigilant.
In response, both central and state governments are closely tracking the situation. States like Delhi, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh have instructed hospitals to stay on alert and ensure adequate resources are available to manage any potential surge in cases.
