India is witnessing a sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases. The country saw a huge 46 per cent rise in its daily Covid cases, as the Union Health Ministry's data on Wednesday morning showed as many as 4,435 fresh infections in the past 24 hours
This is the biggest single-day rise that the country has seen in about 163 days. A total of 4,777 cases were recorded on September 25 last year. After the new infections, India's Covid tally rose to 4.47 crore
So, what's causing the sudden surge in the Covid cases? Can Covid cases rise be seen as a new wave? And is it something to worry? Let's see what experts have to say on this
According to experts, the current surge in Covid cases could be attributed to the spread of the XBB.1.16 variant in the country. XBB.1.16 is one of more than 600 Omicron subvariants that are currently circulating
The new Covid variant poses less risk and is unlikely to result in increase in hospitalisations but people need to remain vigilant, said a top Union Health Ministry official
Dr Richa Sareen, consultant of pulmonology at Fortis hospital, said that XBB.1.16 is a variant of Omicron, and so there shouldn't be much to worry as, most of us have developed antibodies over time, especially after the last wave driven by Omicron, PTI reported
Speaking about the possibility of a peak, Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of the LNJP Hospital told PTI, "It is a new variant so we can't say that a peak will come soon but it was the trend in previous waves that cases used to start declining after reaching the peak in four to six weeks"
However, as cases in the country continue to rise, experts have stressed that people must wear masks in crowded places such as markets and movie theatres, and not be complacent
Extra caution needs to be exercised by those who are immunocompromised or have co-morbidities. Meanwhile, experts have also urged people to take their booster dose against Covid, if they haven't got it already