India has reported a significant surge in COVID-19 cases, with 4,302 active infections recorded, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The states of Kerala and Maharashtra remain the worst-hit, contributing the highest number of fresh cases. So far, six deaths have been officially reported due to the ongoing spike.

This sudden rise is attributed to the emergence of new, fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants. While JN.1 has been widely circulating across Southeast Asian nations, India's current wave is primarily driven by the NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 variants both considered highly transmissible descendants of the Omicron lineage.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, a look at the latest state-wise data reveals which regions are currently facing the brunt of the outbreak in India.

Since the beginning of the wave, Kerala has been leading in cases and the alarming situation has made the Kerala health department issue fresh advisories to hospitals and healthcare workers. The advisories noted certain key points such as Both government and private hospitals have been directed to conduct mock drills, with a Google Form to be shared soon for online registering. Hospitals have also been asked to strictly follow the revised ABC Guidelines 03, as issued in June 2023, for the treatment of patients showing COVID-19 or other influenza-like symptoms.

The State of Maharashtra counties to be a COVID giant with a tally of 510 Covid cases out of which 16 are recently positive tested cases. The state also reported four fatalities in the last 24 hours, out of which. The first one is of a 55-year-old man with Cardiac arrhythmia who was on antiarrhythmics. The second person who lost his life to Covid was a 73-year-old male with Cardiogenic Shock, Parkinson's Disease, COVID-19 pneumonia, and Hypertension.

The third person whose life succumbed to Covid was a 23-year-old female with Diabetes Mellitus and HTN. The last out of the four was a 27-year-old male with IHD with old PTB, LRTI, and alcohol withdrawal seizure.

Gujarat is also running high on cases as the state reported 108 new COVID cases, taking the toll to a large number of active cases to 461, according to a bulletin issued by the state health department.

The data reflected that in the state, out of the 461 total active cases, 20 were hospitalized, while the remaining 441 were isolated at home. For relief, 43 patients were discharged but one patient succumbed to the infection, as per the bulletin.

The , is constantly seeing an uptick in cases, with the current total toll standing at 457. The union territory is moving towards a COVID giant scenario, noting that 64 of the total number have been recent cases.

The northeastern states are to see a slight surge in cases, where states like Sikkim have reported four new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The number of the new COVID cases has touched 12 ,where cases have been recorded prominently in two

region, including six in Assam and two in Mizoram.

Several mock drills are being conducted throughout the county to examine the hospitals' readiness, but the public has been advised to practice all the necessary precautions like following hand hygiene, following cough etiquette, and avoiding crowded places when unwell.

The World Health Organisation while asking the member countries to "remain vigilant", has stated that "based on the current risk assessment, the WHO advises against imposing travel or trade restrictions." The World Health Organisation hasn't yet termed the variant as a "variant of Concern" despite the variant's excessive amount of mutations but people are asked to remain vigilant and be proactive in dealing with the virus, following all the protocols and precautions like avoiding traveling, mass gatherings and using sanitizers and masks.