<p>New Delhi: India currently has over 4,300 Covid-19 patients but most of them have mild infections and are being managed from home, the Union Health Ministry sources said here on Wednesday after a two-day review meeting to check the country’s preparedness.</p><p>“Forty-four Covid-19 deaths have been reported since January 1, 2025 but primarily among individuals with pre-existing illnesses,” they noted.</p><p>Though mock drills are being conducted to examine the hospitals’ readiness, the public has been advised to practice hand hygiene, follow cough etiquette, and avoid crowded places when unwell.</p>.Total active Covid cases in Karnataka stand at 324 .<p>Individuals with acute respiratory illness should self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms worsen, officials said.</p><p>Last month, the World Health Organisation while asking the member countries to “remain vigilant”, noted that “based on the current risk assessment, the WHO advises against imposing travel or trade restrictions.”</p><p>Following the review meeting, chaired by Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services, States have been instructed to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines.</p><p>A mock drill to assess oxygen supply systems was conducted on June 2 while facility-level preparedness drills are ongoing and would continue on June 5.</p><p>On the surveillance front, the officials said testing was recommended for all admitted SARI (severe acute respiratory illness) cases and 5 per cent of ILI (influenza like illness) cases. Positive SARI samples are sent for whole genome sequencing.</p><p>According to the WHO, there has been an increase in SARS-CoV-2 activity globally, and as of May 11, the test positivity rate is 11 per cent across 73 reporting countries.</p><p>But the reporting of Covid-19 associated hospitalisations, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths is very limited.</p><p>In South East Asia, the test positivity rate increased from 0.5 per cent to 5 per cent since the beginning of April with a rise in cases being reported from India, Thailand and Maldives.</p>
<p>New Delhi: India currently has over 4,300 Covid-19 patients but most of them have mild infections and are being managed from home, the Union Health Ministry sources said here on Wednesday after a two-day review meeting to check the country’s preparedness.</p><p>“Forty-four Covid-19 deaths have been reported since January 1, 2025 but primarily among individuals with pre-existing illnesses,” they noted.</p><p>Though mock drills are being conducted to examine the hospitals’ readiness, the public has been advised to practice hand hygiene, follow cough etiquette, and avoid crowded places when unwell.</p>.Total active Covid cases in Karnataka stand at 324 .<p>Individuals with acute respiratory illness should self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms worsen, officials said.</p><p>Last month, the World Health Organisation while asking the member countries to “remain vigilant”, noted that “based on the current risk assessment, the WHO advises against imposing travel or trade restrictions.”</p><p>Following the review meeting, chaired by Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services, States have been instructed to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines.</p><p>A mock drill to assess oxygen supply systems was conducted on June 2 while facility-level preparedness drills are ongoing and would continue on June 5.</p><p>On the surveillance front, the officials said testing was recommended for all admitted SARI (severe acute respiratory illness) cases and 5 per cent of ILI (influenza like illness) cases. Positive SARI samples are sent for whole genome sequencing.</p><p>According to the WHO, there has been an increase in SARS-CoV-2 activity globally, and as of May 11, the test positivity rate is 11 per cent across 73 reporting countries.</p><p>But the reporting of Covid-19 associated hospitalisations, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths is very limited.</p><p>In South East Asia, the test positivity rate increased from 0.5 per cent to 5 per cent since the beginning of April with a rise in cases being reported from India, Thailand and Maldives.</p>
