The threat of COVID-19 is once again looming over the country, with a noticeable rise in the number of cases, particularly in Maharashtra and Kerala. As per the latest data released by the Union Health Ministry, 5,364 active cases have been recorded nationwide. In the past 24 hours alone, 764 new cases and 4 deaths have been reported.
Kerala remains the most affected state with 192 new cases, raising the state's active case count to 1,679. Maharashtra follows closely with 107 new cases, with Pune and Mumbai emerging as the primary hotspots.
According to the Maharashtra State Health Department, the state has reported a total of 1,362 cases since January 2025. On Saturday, 86 new cases were registered, including:
31 in Pune city
28 in Mumbai
7 in Pimpri-Chinchwad
6 in Thane
4 in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar
3 in Nagpur
2 in Mira-Bhayander
1 each in Satara, Kolhapur, and Sangli
2 in rural Pune
Since January, Maharashtra has conducted 16,226 COVID-19 tests, of which 1,362 have returned positive. A striking observation is that 634 of Mumbai’s 640 cases have been reported in May alone. In terms of fatalities, 18 patients have died, with **17 of them already battling other serious health conditions.
Other states are also witnessing a steady rise:
Gujarat: 107 new cases
Chhattisgarh: 50 cases
Haryana: 31 cases
Delhi: 30 cases
In Chhattisgarh, research is ongoing to identify the characteristics of a new COVID-19 variant, with 1,183 individuals tested so far.
To contain the potential outbreak, the central government has initiated mock drills across hospitals to assess preparedness regarding the availability of oxygen, ventilators, essential medicines, and hospital beds. All states have been instructed to strengthen their healthcare infrastructure and remain vigilant.
Both central and state governments have moved into alert mode, urging citizens to take the necessary precautions. Authorities are emphasizing the importance of:
Wearing masks in public
Practicing frequent handwashing
Avoiding crowded places
Testing and isolating immediately upon showing symptoms
Officials stress that responsible behavior from every citizen is crucial to breaking the chain of infection and avoiding another widespread outbreak.