NEW DELHI : Coronavirus infections continue to rise across India, with 10,158 new cases detected in the preceding 24 hours, the highest since July 2022.
The day also saw 19 deaths due to the viral disease, taking the pandemic’s overall toll to 5,31,035. Three out of four infections in the latest surge are due to XBB.1.16, a sub-variant of Omicron.
However, cases continue to be mild, requiring few hospitalizations. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has noted an increase in infections, especially in western, southern and northern parts of India.
Scientists said cases may keep rising for the next 10-12 days before they settle down. “Covid is an endemic infection now, and it will continue to come and go," said Nivedita Gupta, senior scientist and head of the epidemiological department at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). “We must keep following covid-19 appropriate behaviour besides vaccination and isolation of the infected individual.