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COVID-19 appears to be making a comeback in Asia, with a spike in cases reported in Hong Kong and Singapore. The increase in cases is being attributed to waning immunity and emerging virus mutations, particularly the JN.1 strain and its sub-lineages. India has recorded 164 fresh cases since 12 May, taking the total number of active COVID-19 cases in the country to 257. Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are currently reporting the highest number of cases.

Kerala alone logged 69 new infections over the past week, followed by Maharashtra with 44 and Tamil Nadu with 34.

Maharashtra currently has 56 active cases. Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital recently reported the deaths of a 59-year-old cancer patient and a 14-year-old girl suffering from kidney disease. Though both patients died of underlying illnesses, they also tested positive for COVID-19. The deaths, however, have not been officially classified as COVID-19 fatalities, as per news agency PTI.

Anil Kokil, Former Corporator, told reporters that the hospital did not hand over the body of the 59-year-old woman to her family. “The woman was cremated at the Bhoiwada crematorium with only two family members, as per protocol,” he said, as quoted by NDTV.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) clarified that both patients died due to serious co-morbidities, and not COVID-19. It added that the patients had been brought to Mumbai from Sindhudurg and Dombivli for treatment.

Amid the rising cases, concerns are also mounting over Mumbai’s healthcare infrastructure. Around 200 newly built primary health centres (PHCs) and sub-centres are reportedly non-functional due to inadequate staffing, lack of funds, and poor facilities, as per NDTV's report.

Neha Kadam, a community health volunteer at Kasturba Prathmik Kendra in Mumbai, highlighted the shortage of resources. “Each staff member is responsible for 1,200 homes. The staff does not have a chair to sit on. We have to go on the ground to check on patients. The facilities are not as good as they should be. Preparations should be made given the increasing cases,” she said, as quoted by the report.

Despite the recent uptick, the BMC urged citizens to remain calm. “The situation is under control and hospitals are fully prepared,” the civic body stated. It also noted that only a limited number of cases had been reported in Mumbai between January and April 2025, and no clusters or major outbreaks had been identified in May so far.

COVID-19 Situation In India ‘Under Control’: Report

Health authorities in India are closely monitoring the rise in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong and Singapore, even as official sources asserted on Monday that the situation within the country remains firmly under control, news agency PTI reported.

A high-level review meeting was convened under the chairpersonship of the Director General of Health Services on Monday. The meeting brought together experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Emergency Medical Relief division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and various Central government hospitals to assess the current coronavirus scenario in the country.

According to official sources cited by PTI, the deliberations concluded that India’s COVID-19 situation is stable. As of 19 May 2025, the number of active cases stands at just 257 — a notably low figure in the context of the country’s vast population. Nearly all reported cases are mild and do not require hospitalisation, a source said.

India continues to rely on its robust surveillance systems, including the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and monitoring mechanisms established by ICMR, to track viral respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19. Hospitals across the country have also been instructed to remain alert by monitoring influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI).

“The Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and proactive in monitoring the situation closely, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard public health,” the PTI sources added.

COVID-19 Cases Surge in Hong Kong and Singapore

Meanwhile, health authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore have also warned of a surge in COVID-19 infections. In Singapore, the Ministry of Health reported an increase in weekly cases from 11,100 to 14,200 between 27 April and 3 May. Hospitalisations rose from an average of 102 to 133 per day. However, the ministry clarified in a 13 May update that the circulating variants do not appear to be more transmissible or severe than previous strains.

In Hong Kong, virus activity is now “quite high,” according to Albert Au, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the city’s Centre for Health Protection, as quoted in local media reports.

The JN.1 variant—first detected in August 2023 and designated as a ‘variant of interest’ by the World Health Organisation in December—is a descendant of the Omicron BA.2.86 variant. The JN.1 strain carries approximately 30 mutations, including the LF.7 and NB.1.8 sub-lineages, which have become increasingly prevalent in recent weeks.

Concerns are rising that India could see a similar surge, as witnessed in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand, due to declining antibody levels among the population.

While officials have reiterated that the situation in India remains under control, some public figures have already tested positive for the virus. According to social media speculation, Australian cricketer Travis Head may have contracted COVID-19, potentially ruling him out of the ongoing IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori confirmed Head had tested positive. Actor Shilpa Shirodkar, a popular Bollywood star from the 1990s, confirmed on Monday that she had tested positive for COVID-19.

There is no indication so far that the new variant is more deadly or transmissible than previous strains. However, health officials continue to advise caution to prevent a recurrence of the devastation caused by the virus in 2020 and 2021.