Covid-19 Cases in India Reach 2,710; Comorbidity-Linked Deaths Spark Health Vigilance

Most of the seven deaths reported in the past 24 hours involved patients with chronic illnesses; Kerala accounts for the highest number of active cases.

HH News Desk 3 weeks agoLast Updated: June 8, 2025

6 3 minutes read

NEW DELHI — India has reported a total of 2,710 active Covid-19 cases as of Friday morning, according to official data from the Union Health Ministry. Seven deaths were also confirmed over the last 24 hours, spread across six states. While the case numbers remain relatively low in absolute terms, the fatalities — mostly in individuals with underlying medical conditions — have prompted a closer look at how the virus is affecting high-risk groups.

Covid-positive, but not the only factor

Take Delhi, for instance. A 60-year-old woman passed away at a government hospital — she’d recently undergone surgery for an intestinal blockage. Covid-19 was found during routine testing but wasn’t considered the primary cause. Still, doctors believe the infection may have complicated her recovery.

In Gujarat, officials confirmed one death. At the time of filing this report, detailed clinical records were still pending. The case is under review by a district-level team.

Down south, Karnataka’s Health Department noted the passing of a 70-year-old male patient with a long list of conditions — diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease. He died following acute cardiorespiratory arrest. His Covid-19 status is still under RT-PCR verification, though symptoms were consistent with viral involvement.

Maharashtra’s reconciled death, and a young patient lost

Maharashtra saw two fatalities. One involved a 67-year-old man diagnosed with pneumonia and ARDS; he was Covid-positive. The other was a 21-year-old with diabetic ketoacidosis and a severe lower respiratory tract infection. The Health Department clarified that one of these deaths was added to the tally after data reconciliation, suggesting it had occurred earlier but was only recently recorded.

Punjab’s health bulletin confirmed the death of a 39-year-old with Hepatitis B and related respiratory complications. In Tamil Nadu, a 60-year-old patient with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes also succumbed. All had tested positive for Covid-19 at some stage of hospitalisation.

In each case, Covid was one of multiple health challenges — not necessarily the main cause, but likely a compounding factor.

Kerala still ahead in active case count

Kerala continues to report the highest number of active cases — 1,147, as per Friday’s update. Health officials there attribute this to continued testing and contact tracing, not necessarily a worsening outbreak.

“Most people aren’t being hospitalised,” a district medical officer in Thiruvananthapuram told Hindustan Herald. “The virus is moving, yes, but not in a way that’s overwhelming our system. We’re tracking, not panicking.”

At the national level, health officials said that death data reconciliation is still underway in several states. Some states are updating earlier deaths after review boards complete their case audits. Bihar, notably, hadn’t submitted its daily update as of Friday morning.

Central government says infrastructure remains ready

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Union Minister of State for Health and AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, said the Centre has reviewed preparedness across districts and major cities.

“The infrastructure built during previous waves — ICU beds, oxygen pipelines, concentrators — it’s all still in place and functional. We’re prepared,” Jadhav said. He added that state governments have been asked to conduct internal reviews of hospital readiness.

While no emergency alerts have been issued, the ministry has advised state health departments to remain in “surveillance mode,” particularly in districts where the elderly population or comorbidity burden is high.

Specialists caution: The virus is quieter, not gone

Epidemiologists point out that most current fatalities are not due to Covid alone, but the virus is still capable of tipping the balance in already fragile patients.

“It’s not about case count anymore. It’s about context,” said a senior advisor with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). “If someone’s already battling diabetes or chronic lung disease, a Covid infection — even mild — can be the thing that leads to deterioration.”

Doctors in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai echoed this view. Many said they’re seeing older patients or those with existing respiratory issues come in with overlapping symptoms. While ICU occupancy is low, vigilance remains key.

Genomic sequencing finds no red flags — for now

According to data shared with the INSACOG network, there’s no indication of a new variant of concern. The dominant lineages remain within expected evolutionary parameters and don’t appear to be driving transmission spikes.

That said, officials at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are monitoring case outcomes closely. Hospitals have been instructed to flag clusters, unusual presentations, or rising admissions. Vaccine coverage, while holding, is still patchy in several districts, especially for booster doses.

As of now, there are no new movement restrictions or policy changes. Public advisories continue to recommend mask use in clinics, hand hygiene, and avoiding close contact with high-risk individuals when symptomatic.

For now, the situation is under control — but not off the radar.

Written by Amit S. | Published on 31 May 2025 | Source: DD News

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