India’s Active Covid-19 Cases Dip Amid Emergence of New Omicron Sub-Variants

Health Ministry urges continued vigilance as NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 variants circulate; disease severity remains low, says ICMR

New Delhi: India’s active Covid-19 caseload dropped to 5,976 on Friday, a decrease from 6,483 cases reported a day earlier, even as health authorities monitor the emergence of two new Omicron sub-variants—NB.1.8.1 and LF.7. Despite the appearance of these new strains, experts at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) maintain that the severity of illness remains comparable to earlier Omicron waves.

In the last 24 hours, the country reported three Covid-related deaths—two from Delhi and one from Kerala—bringing the total fatalities in 2024 to 116, as per the latest data from the Union Health Ministry.

The recent surge in infections has been attributed to sub-lineages of the Omicron JN.1 variant, particularly recombinant forms like LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, according to genome sequencing data. Previously, the JN.1.16 sub-variant had been the primary driver of cases.

Several states continue to see a downward trend in infections. Kerala currently has the highest number of active cases at 1,309, followed by Gujarat (1,046), West Bengal (747), Delhi (632), Karnataka (466), and Maharashtra (443).

Although Covid-19 has now entered an endemic phase, the Health Ministry has reiterated the importance of Covid-appropriate behaviour, including avoiding crowded areas and seeking medical advice if symptomatic. The ministry highlighted that all variants circulating over the past three years belong to the Omicron family.

To ensure healthcare readiness, the central government has instructed all states and union territories to review hospital preparedness, covering oxygen supply systems, ventilator availability, isolation beds, and essential medicines. A nationwide mock drill was recently carried out to assess oxygen infrastructure in hospitals.

State and district surveillance teams continue to monitor Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases. All SARI hospitalisations and 5% of ILI samples are being tested for Covid-19, with positive cases undergoing whole genome sequencing to track any new mutations.

In the last 24 hours, 1,219 individuals recovered from the virus, pushing India’s total recoveries for 2024 to 17,164, according to the health ministry update.