Covid-19 claims one life in Thane even as city records eight new cases

Thane currently has 18 active Covid-19 cases, with only one patient receiving hospital treatment and the remaining in home isolation. Representational pic .

A 21-year-old man has died of Covid-19 in Thane on Saturday even as eight new infections were recorded in the city, according to a statement by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

The city currently has 18 active Covid-19 cases, with only one patient receiving hospital treatment and the remaining in home isolation. All patients are reported to be in stable condition.

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The 21-year-old male had a history of severe diabetes and passed away due to complications linked to comorbidities at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa. He was admitted on Thursday for diabetes-related issues and later tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday night, said Dr Aniruddha Malgaonkar, the hospital's superintendent.

The hospital has established a dedicated 19-bed Covid-19 ward, with RT-PCR testing facilities, reported PTI.

Maharashtra Covid-19 outbreak

To assess and manage the evolving situation, the civic authorities conducted a high-level review meeting on Friday. Chief Medical Officer Dr Chetna Nitil confirmed that all health centres are well-stocked with essential medicines and testing kits.

Reassuring the public, the TMC emphasised that the situation remains under control and urged residents not to panic amid the Maharashtra Covid-19 outbreak.

India has detected one case of the emerging Covid-19 subvariant NB 181 and four cases of the LF 7 variant, according to recent data released by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). The NB 181 case was identified in Tamil Nadu in April, while the LF 7 cases were found in Gujarat in May. As of May, the World Health Organization (WHO) has categorised both NB 181 and LF 7 as Variants Under Monitoring (VUM), a classification below the more serious labels of Variants of Concern (VOC) or Variants of Interest (VOI). However, both sub-variants have been linked to a noticeable surge in Covid-19 infections in China and several other Asian regions, raising concerns among global health experts about their potential to spread further if not monitored closely.

As of May 19, India reported 257 active Covid-19 cases. While national case counts remain relatively low, health authorities are witnessing localised surges in specific states and cities. Delhi recorded 23 new cases, Andhra Pradesh reported four infections in the past 24 hours, Telangana confirmed one case, and a nine-month-old baby tested positive in Bengaluru. Kerala, in particular, has seen a steady rise in infections, with 273 confirmed cases during the month of May alone, prompting close surveillance.

(With inputs from PTI)