India is witnessing a renewed rise in Covid-19 cases, with active infections climbing to 5,364 as of Friday morning, based on data from the Union Health Ministry. Over the past 24 hours, the country logged 764 fresh cases and four fatalities—two from Kerala and one each from Punjab and Karnataka.

Kerala continues to lead in daily case numbers, registering 192 new infections, followed by Gujarat with 107, West Bengal with 58, and Delhi with 30. Together, these states contributed to a sharp nationwide increase of nearly 500 cases.

In response to the uptick, the central government has initiated mock drills to evaluate hospital readiness across the country. These drills are designed to ensure that oxygen supplies, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines are available should a larger wave emerge.

Maharashtra reported 114 new cases on Friday, bringing the total to 1,276 since January. One more death raised the state’s Covid-19 death toll to 18. Among its districts, Pune and Mumbai continue to report the most new infections, with 44 and 37 respectively. Other areas like Mira Bhayandar and Panvel also saw smaller increases.

Meanwhile, West Bengal recorded 58 new infections, but 91 patients recovered during the same period. The state's active caseload now stands at 596, and the total death count remains unchanged at one.

In Delhi, 30 new cases were confirmed, pushing the number of active infections to 592. No new deaths were reported, keeping the city’s toll steady at seven for the year so far.

Chhattisgarh joined the list of states seeing a rise in infections. After recent testing campaigns prompted by growing concern over a new variant, 50 people tested positive out of 1,183 samples taken.

Haryana recorded 31 new cases on Friday, with Gurugram (9) and Faridabad (11) accounting for the bulk of infections. Smaller case counts were reported in districts like Karnal, Hisar, and Panchkula. The state currently has 87 active cases.

Despite the spike in numbers, health officials insist that most cases are mild and managed at home. Experts stress that Covid-19, now considered endemic, is likely to persist with occasional surges, but there is no cause for panic.

Earlier this week, on June 2 and 3, high-level meetings were held under the leadership of Dr. Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services. These discussions involved state officials, disaster response agencies, and health bodies, focusing on preparedness and real-time monitoring.

To track the virus’s evolution, authorities continue surveillance of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). All SARI patients are tested for Covid-19, and a random sample of ILI cases is also checked. Any SARI sample that tests positive is sent for genome sequencing via ICMR’s VRDL network.

While the World Health Organization ended Covid-19’s global emergency status in May 2023, the virus remains a public health concern. Experts now categorize it as a seasonal or localized illness, cautioning that while the disease may have softened in intensity, vigilance must continue.