Young life lost as COVID cases re-emerge; health ministry stays on alert

In the wake of a renewed rise in COVID-19 cases, a 21-year-old from Mumbra, admitted to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Kalwa Hospital in Thane on May 22, has succumbed to the virus. According to the Thane Municipal Corporation, he was the fourth fatality reported in the Mumbai region this week. All four patients, including this youth, had serious pre-existing conditions, with COVID being an incidental diagnosis, according to state health officials.

Meanwhile, Karnataka reported a COVID-linked death of an 84-year-old man in Bengaluru. The Whitefield resident, suffering from multiple comorbidities, passed away on May 17 due to multi-organ failure. His COVID test returned positive days later.

Although there’s been a noticeable uptick in infections over the last ten days, health professionals across private and government hospitals agree that symptoms remain mild in the majority of cases.

Delhi, Karnataka, and other states have issued precautionary guidelines, but authorities have urged citizens not to panic. Health experts emphasize that only scattered cases are being detected, and the illness is manageable. “The present situation is fully under control,” noted Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired a key review meeting on Saturday, assessing reports primarily from Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The Union Health Ministry confirmed that as of May 19, India had 257 active cases, most under home isolation.

Citizens are advised to follow standard precautions—masks in crowded areas, hand hygiene, and avoiding unnecessary gatherings.

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