India Sees COVID Surge; Delhi Reports First Death, States Issue Advisories
India is experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases, reaching 2,710 active infections nationally. Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi are the most affected states, with Delhi reporting its first fatality in the current surge. The Karnataka government has advised parents to keep children with symptoms like fever or cough away from school. This resurgence prompts renewed caution and adherence to public health guidelines across the nation as schools reopen.
Unpacked:
The current surge in India is linked to new COVID-19 variants spreading across multiple states, though specific variant names for this wave have not been detailed. Previously, India has faced variants like XBB.1.16 and Eris in 2022–2023, indicating ongoing viral evolution.
The current active case count, around 2,710, is much lower than during previous waves, which saw hundreds of thousands of active cases at their peak. For context, India has reported over 45 million total cases since 2020, but current active infections are a small fraction of that.
As of 2025, about 74% of India's population has received at least one dose and 69% are fully vaccinated. More than 2.2 billion vaccine doses have been administered. Despite halted vaccine production, India's vaccine stockpile remains ample and ready for deployment if needed.
Authorities are advising renewed caution, including keeping symptomatic children home from school, promoting mask-wearing, social distancing, and adherence to updated public health guidelines. These measures aim to curb transmission, especially as schools reopen and community interactions increase.