Posted By :  Admin1

As of May 22, Delhi has recorded 23 active COVID-19 cases, according to Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Singh. He stated that all patients are stable, with only a few admitted to private hospitals while others are under observation. Dr. Singh emphasized that the current strain resembles influenza and assured the public that there is no need for alarm.

To address the situation, the health department has instructed both government and private hospitals to ensure adequate availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, and other essential supplies. Hospitals have been advised to keep equipment like ventilators and oxygen concentrators in working condition. Additionally, daily reporting of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases has been mandated. Testing guidelines recommend COVID-19 testing for 5% of ILI cases and 100% of SARI cases, with positive samples sent for genome sequencing to detect new variants.

Medical experts note that the recent increase in cases may be linked to Omicron sub-lineages such as JN.1, LF.7, and NB1.8, which are more transmissible but not causing severe illness. Dr. Jatin Ahuja from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals mentioned that while these variants can bypass existing immunity, their symptoms are similar to previous Omicron strains. Dr. Rommel Tickoo from Max Hospital added that the new strain behaves like seasonal flu, with mild symptoms like sore throat, cough, and fever, and does not lead to increased hospitalizations or pneumonia. However, individuals with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems should remain cautious.