COVER STORY
India is currently facing a resurgence of COVID‐19 infections driven by a wave of highly transmissible Omicron subvariants. According to the latest figures from the Union Health Ministry, active cases have climbed above 6,000 nationwide. As of the morning of June 9, the active caseload reached 6,491, with 358 new infections reported in the previous 24 hours, while fortunately no fresh deaths occurred in that time frame. However, data released on June 8 confirmed six fatalities, raising the death count since January to 65.
Kerala remains at the epicenter of the resurgence, contributing the most to the active caseload. Its tally stood at approximately 1,950 active cases as of June 8, with 144 new cases reported in the previous day alone, and several of the recent deaths in the country traced to the state. Gujarat ranks second with 980 active cases, including 158 fresh infections reported June 9, while West Bengal and Delhi follow closely, with active counts around 747 and 728 respectively.
Over the course of the past two weeks, India’ s active COVID‐19 caseload has escalated dramatically. From just 257 active cases on May 22, the count has surged to over 6,100 by June 8— a more than 20‐fold increase. The current spike is being fueled largely by
As of June 2025, India’ s active COVID- 19 cases cross 6,000, driven by fast-spreading Omicron subvariants, with Kerala, Gujarat, and Delhi reporting the highest surges.
new Omicron subvariants, specifically NB. 1.8.1, LF. 7, XFG, and JN. 1. Epidemiological monitoring notes NB. 1.8.1 as a dominant strain not only in India but also in international hotspots such as China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. While these variants are highly transmissible, most cases remain mild and manageable at home, though specialists continue to caution about the risk to older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
In response to the evolving situation, the central government has implemented several preparatory measures. Hospital mock drills are being conducted across states to ensure readiness in oxygen supply, ventilator availability, isolation bed capacity, and stock of essential medicines. Key states such as Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Gujarat have activated enhanced surveillance protocols, reinstated testing advisories, and issued public health guidelines. Private labs are again mandated to report all COVID‐19 test results to the ICMR and local health authorities. Educational institutions and workplaces are gradually reintroducing internal safety advisories in areas seeing active clustering.
Experts emphasize the importance of distinguishing COVID‐19 from seasonal viral fevers, citing overlapping symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and
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BioVoiceNews | June 2025