A COVID ward set up at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G
Minister for Health C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, on Saturday, chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the State’s COVID-19 situation and the Health Department’s preparedness for seasonal diseases ahead of the monsoon.
Senior Health officials presented an update on the national and global COVID-19 scenario. While a slight uptick in cases has been observed in a few countries, officials noted that hospitalisation rates remain low. In India, the situation is stable, with only a limited number of cases linked to the JN.1 variant, a strain in circulation since 2023, which currently poses no serious threat, said a release from the Minister’s office.
Factors such as herd immunity due to immunisation against COVID-19, mild nature of symptoms due to the JN.1 variant and low incidence of hospitalisation, all indicate that the situation is under control. There is no immediate cause for concern, as on date, the release said.
Officials confirmed that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has not issued any new advisories or guidelines, attributing this to the controlled nature of the outbreak. Epidemiologists informed the Minister that COVID-19 has been in its endemic phase for nearly three years, and minor fluctuations in case numbers are expected. They also warned of an expected rise in respiratory infections such as cough, cold, and fever due to prevailing weather conditions.
Risk of seasonal diseases
The Minister was briefed on the availability of testing kits, medicines, and healthcare personnel across the State. Stressing the need for vigilance with the approaching monsoon season, he highlighted the risk of seasonal illnesses such as dengue, chikungunya, and malaria. He appealed to the public to maintain clean surroundings and eliminate stagnant water sources to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases.
He instructed the Health Department to ensure that adequate stocks of essential medicines and supplies are there at all government health facilities. Awareness drives are to be ramped up in both rural and urban areas, focusing on hygiene and disease prevention.
Published – May 24, 2025 07:01 PM is
