India’s total number of active COVID-19 cases has gone beyond 5,000, with 5,364 current infections recorded as of Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In the past 24 hours, four new Covid-related deaths have been reported, pushing the total number of fatalities to 55 since January this year.

Kerala continues to report the highest number of infections, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi. Health authorities have said that most cases are mild and are being treated at home.

Due to the rising numbers, the Central Government has launched mock drills across India to check how ready hospitals and health centres are to handle a possible surge. States and Union Territories have been told to make sure they have enough oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines.

On June 2 and 3, Dr Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services, led a series of important meetings. These included experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), as well as officials from central and state hospitals.

As part of continued checks, the IDSP is keeping a close watch on cases of flu-like symptoms and severe breathing illnesses (ILI and SARI). All patients hospitalised with SARI, and 5% of those with ILI, are now being tested for COVID-19.

Samples from patients who test positive are being sent for whole-genome sequencing. This helps scientists find out if any new or worrying variants are spreading.

Delhi reported 30 fresh Covid-19 cases on Friday, raising the number of active infections in the city to 592. Since January 1, the capital has seen seven deaths, with no new deaths reported since Thursday.

Health officials have asked people to stay cautious, follow basic hygiene like washing hands and wearing masks, and report any flu-like symptoms to local health authorities as soon as possible.

You might also be interested in - India sees 1,000+ new COVID-19 cases; Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi lead